N1-Pyrazolospiroketone Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase Inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a compound of Formula (I) 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound, wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , Z, A 1 , L and A 2  are as described herein; pharmaceutical compositions thereof; and the use thereof in treating diseases, conditions or disorders modulated by the inhibition of an acetyl-CoA carboxylase enzyme(s) in an animal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to substituted pyrazolospiroketone compounds that act as inhibitors of an acetyl-CoA carboxylase(s) and their use in treating diseases, conditions or disorders modulated by the inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase enzyme(s).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Acetyl-CoA carboxylases (ACC) are a family of enzymes found in most species and are associated with fatty acid synthesis and metabolism through catalyzing the production of malonyl-CoA from acetyl-CoA. In mammals, two isoforms of the ACC enzyme have been identified. ACC1, which is expressed at high levels in lipogenic tissues, such as fat and the liver, controls the first committed step in the biosynthesis of long-chain fatty acids. If acetyl-CoA is not carboxylated to form malonyl-CoA, it is metabolized through the Krebs cycle. ACC2, a minor component of hepatic ACC but the predominant isoform in heart and skeletal muscle, catalyzes the production of malonyl-CoA at the cytosolic surface of mitochondria, and regulates how much fatty acid is utilized in β-oxidation by inhibiting carnitine palmitoyl transferase. Thus, by increasing fatty acid utilization and by preventing increases in de novo fatty acid synthesis, chronic administration of an ACC inhibitor (ACC-I) may also deplete liver and adipose tissue triglyceride (TG) stores in obese subjects consuming a high or low-fat diet, leading to selective loss of body fat.

Studies conducted by Abu-Etheiga, et al., suggest that ACC2 plays an essential role in controlling fatty acid oxidation and, as such it would provide a target in therapy against obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as type-2 diabetes. See, Abu-Etheiga, L., et al., “Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 mutant mice are protected against obesity and diabetes induced by high-fat/high-carbohydrate diets” PNAS, 100(18) 10207-10212 (2003). See also, Choi, C. S., et al., “Continuous fat oxidation in acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 knockout mice increases total energy expenditure, reduces fat mass, and improves insulin sensitivity” PNAS, 104(42) 16480-16485 (2007).

It is becoming increasingly clear that hepatic lipid accumulation causes hepatic insulin resistance and contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Salvage, et al., demonstrated that ACC 1 and ACC2 are both involved in regulating fat oxidation in hepatocytes while ACC1, the dominant isoform in rat liver, is the sole regulator of fatty acid synthesis. Furthermore, in their model, combined reduction of both isoforms is required to significantly lower hepatic malonyl-CoA levels, increase fat oxidation in the fed state, reduce lipid accumulation, and improve insulin action in vivo. Thus, showing that hepatic ACC1 and ACC2 inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic insulin resistance. See, Savage, D. B., et al., “Reversal of diet-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatic insulin resistance by antisense oligonucleotide inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylases 1 and 2” J Clin Invest doi: 10.1172/JCI27300. See also, Oh, W., et al., “Glucose and fat metabolism in adipose tissue of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 knockout mice” PNAS, 102(5) 1384-1389 (2005).

Consequently, there is a need for medicaments containing ACC1 and/or ACC2 inhibitors to treat obesity and obesity-related diseases (such as, NAFLD and type-2 diabetes) by inhibiting fatty acid synthesis and by increasing fatty acid oxidation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention is a compound having the structure of Formula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein

-   -   R¹ is (C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₃-C₇)cycloalkyl, tetrahydrofuranyl or         oxetanyl; wherein said (C₁-C₆)alkyl is optionally substituted         with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from         (C₁-C₃)alkoxy, hydroxy, fluoro, phenyl, tetrahydrofuranyl or         oxetanyl;     -   R² is hydrogen, halo, (C₁-C₃)alkyl, or cyano;     -   R³ are each independently hydrogen or (C₁-C₃)alkyl;     -   L is a direct bond or a (C₁-C₆)alkylene wherein one carbon of         the (C₁-C₆)alkylene is optionally replaced by —C(O)—, —C(O)NH—,         —NHC(O), O, S, NH or N(C₁-C₃)alkyl;     -   Z is CH₂ or O;     -   A¹ and A² are each independently (C₆-C₁₀)aryl, 5 to 12 membered         heteroaryl or 8 to 12 membered fused heterocyclicaryl; wherein         said (C₆-C₁₀)aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl or 8 to 12         membered fused heterocyclicaryl are each optionally substituted         with one to three substituents independently selected from         (C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy, halo, amino, (C₁-C₃)alkylamino,         di(C₁-C₃)alkylamino, hydroxy, cyano and amido wherein the alkyl         portion of the (C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy, (C₁-C₃)alkylamino         and di(C₁-C₃)alkylamino are optionally substituted with one to         five fluoro; and wherein one of A¹ or A² is substituted by         CO₂R⁴, (C₁-C₆)CO₂R⁴, tetrazolyl or (C₁-C₆)tetrazolyl; and     -   R⁴ is (C₁-C₈)alkyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl or         (C₁-C₆)alkyl-(C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable         salt thereof.

Another embodiment of the present invention is the compound of the immediately preceding embodiment wherein R¹ is (C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₃-C₇)cycloalkyl, or tetrahydrofuranyl; R² is hydrogen or methyl; each R³ is hydrogen; and L is a direct bond or O; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Another embodiment of the present invention is the compound of the immediately preceding embodiment wherein R¹ is (C₂-C₄)alkyl, A¹ and A² are each independently phenyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, indolyl, benzopyrazinyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzoimidazolonyl, pyrrolopyridinyl, pyrrolopyrimidinyl, pyrazolopyridinyl, pyrazolopyrimidinyl, indazolyl, indolinonyl, naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl, quinolinonyl, dihydroquinolinonyl, oxo-dihydroquinolinonyl, isoquinolinyl, isoquinolinonyl, dihydroisoquinonyl or oxo-dihydroisoquinonyl, each optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from fluoro, chloro, methyl, methoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, amido or cyano; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is the compound of the immediately preceding embodiment wherein R¹ is isopropyl or t-butyl; R² is hydrogen and R⁴ is hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Still another embodiment of the present invention is the compound of the immediately preceding embodiment wherein A¹ is phenyl, pyridinyl, indazolyl, indolyl, benzoimidazolyl, pyrrolopyridinyl or pyrrolopyrimidinyl; each optionally substituted with one methyl, methoxy, methylamino or dimethylamino; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Another embodiment of the present invention is the compound of either of the two immediately preceding embodiments wherein A² is phenyl substituted with CO₂H or tetrazolyl; and L is a direct bond; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Another embodiment of the present invention is the compound of the immediately preceding embodiment wherein A¹ is phenyl, indolyl or benzoimidazolyl optionally substituted with methyl, or pyridinyl optionally substituted with methylamino or dimethylamino; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a compound selected from: 4-((4-(1-Tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)phenoxy)methyl)benzoic acid; 3-(4-(1-Isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro [indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid; 3-(4-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid; 3-{5-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(methylamino)pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(methylamino) pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4′-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid; 4′-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid; 4-{5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(methylamino)pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{4-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{4-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{4-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{4-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{5-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(methylamino)pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{5-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(ethylamino)pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{6-(ethylamino)-5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{2-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{5-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(ethylamino)pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{6-(ethylamino)-5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-5-(1,3-oxazol-2-yl)benzoic acid; 4-({4-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]phenoxy}methyl)benzoic acid; 3-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-5-(1,3-oxazol-2-yl)benzoic acid; 3-{6-(isopropylamino)-5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{5-[(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(isopropylamino)pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{6-(isopropylamino)-5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{6-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indazol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{4-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{4-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-4-yl}benzoic acid; (5-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}-2-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid; 3-{6-(dimethylamino)-4-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{6-(dimethylamino)-4-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{6-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{6-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{6-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{6-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-6-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)amino]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{5-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl}benzoic acid; 3-(6-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-4-yl)benzoic acid; 4-(6-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-4-yl)benzoic acid; 1-isopropyl-1′-{[3′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]carbonyl}-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(6H)-one; and 1-tert-butyl-1′-{[3′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]carbonyl}-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(6H)-one; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is the compound of the immediately preceding embodiment selected from 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{6-(dimethylamino)-4-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]pyridin-2-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-indol-4-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl}benzoic acid; 4-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl}benzoic acid; 3-{2-[(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl)carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl}benzoic acid; 3-(6-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-4-yl)benzoic acid; and 4-(6-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-4-yl)benzoic acid; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of a compound of formula (I) as described in any of the embodiments; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier. Preferably, the composition comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The composition may also contain at least one additional pharmaceutical agent. Preferred agents include anti-diabetic agents and/or anti-obesity agents (described herein below).

In yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for treating a disease, condition, or disorder mediated by the inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase enzyme(s) in a mammal that includes the step of administering to a mammal, preferably a human, in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof.

Diseases, disorders, or conditions mediated by inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylases include Type II diabetes and diabetes-related diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatic insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance syndrome. Preferred diseases, disorders, or conditions include Type II diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatic insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, and insulin resistance syndrome. More preferred are Type II diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatic insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and obesity. Most preferred is Type II diabetes.

A preferred embodiment is a method for treating, (e.g. delaying the progression or onset) of Type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related disorders in animals comprising the step of administering to an animal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a composition thereof.

Another preferred embodiment is a method for treating obesity and obesity-related disorders in animals comprising the step of administering to an animal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a composition thereof.

Yet another preferred embodiment is a method for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or hepatic insulin resistance in animals comprising the step of administering to an animal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a composition thereof.

Compounds of the present invention may be administered in combination with other pharmaceutical agents (in particular, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic agents described herein below). The combination therapy may be administered as (a) a single pharmaceutical composition which comprises a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, at least one additional pharmaceutical agent described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier; or (b) two separate pharmaceutical compositions comprising (i) a first composition comprising a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier, and (ii) a second composition comprising at least one additional pharmaceutical agent described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered simultaneously or sequentially and in any order.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a sequence of recombinant human ACC1 (SEQ. ID NO. 1) that can be employed in the Transcreener in vitro assay.

FIG. 2 provides a sequence of recombinant human ACC2 (SEQ. ID NO. 2) that can be employed in the Transcreener in vitro assay.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

The phrase “therapeutically effective amount” means an amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that: (i) treats or prevents the particular disease, condition, or disorder, (ii) attenuates, ameliorates, or eliminates one or more symptoms of the particular disease, condition, or disorder, or (iii) prevents or delays the onset of one or more symptoms of the particular disease, condition, or disorder described herein.

The term “animal” refers to humans (male or female), companion animals (e.g., dogs, cats and horses), food-source animals, zoo animals, marine animals, birds and other similar animal species. “Edible animals” refers to food-source animals such as cows, pigs, sheep and poultry.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” indicates that the substance or composition must be compatible chemically and/or toxicologically, with the other ingredients comprising a formulation, and/or the mammal being treated therewith.

The terms “treating”, “treat”, or “treatment” embrace both preventative, i.e., prophylactic, and palliative treatment.

The terms “modulated” or “modulating”, or “modulate(s)”, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, refers to the inhibition of the Acetyl-CoA carboxylases (ACC) enzyme(s) with compounds of the present invention.

The terms “mediated” or “mediating” or “mediate(s)”, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, refers to the (i) treatment or prevention the particular disease, condition, or disorder, (ii) attenuation, amelioration, or elimination of one or more symptoms of the particular disease, condition, or disorder, or (iii) prevention or delay of the onset of one or more symptoms of the particular disease, condition, or disorder described herein, by inhibiting the Acetyl-CoA carboxylases (ACC) enzyme(s).

The term “compounds of the present invention” (unless specifically identified otherwise) refer to compounds of Formula (I) and any pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds, as well as, all stereoisomers (including diastereoisomers and enantiomers), tautomers, conformational isomers, and isotopically labeled compounds. Hydrates and solvates of the compounds of the present invention are considered compositions of the present invention, wherein the compound is in association with water or solvent, respectively.

The terms “(C₁-C₆)alkyl” and “(C₁-C₃)alkyl” are alkyl groups of the specified number of carbons, from one to six or one to three carbons, respectively, which can be either straight chain or branched. For example, the term “(C₁-C₃)alkyl” has from one to three carbons and consists of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl.

The term “(C₃-C₇)cycloalkyl” means a cycloalkyl group with three to seven carbon atoms and consists of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl. The term “halo” means fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo. The term “(C₆-C₁₀)aryl” means an aromatic carbocyclic group consisting of six to ten carbon atoms such as phenyl or naphthyl.

The term “5 to 12 membered heteroaryl” means a five to twelve membered aromatic group which contains at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. As used herein the point of attachment of the “5 to 12 membered heteroaryl” group is on a carbon atom of that group. The “5 to 12 membered heteroaryl” group can be either monocyclic or bicyclic. Preferred embodiments of monocyclic heteroaryls include, but are not limited to, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, and pyrimidinyl. Preferred embodiments of bicyclic heteroaryls include, but are not limited to, radicals of the following ring systems:

The term “8 to 12 membered fused heterocyclicaryl” means an 8 to 12 membered ring system in which a non-aromatic heterocyclic ring is fused to an aryl ring. As used herein the point of attachment of the “8 to 12 membered fused heterocyclicaryl” group is on a carbon atom of that group. A preferred embodiment includes radicals of ring systems such as:

Compounds of the present invention may be synthesized by synthetic routes that include processes analogous to those well-known in the chemical arts, particularly in light of the description contained herein. The starting materials are generally available from commercial sources such as Aldrich Chemicals (Milwaukee, WI) or are readily prepared using methods well known to those skilled in the art (e.g., prepared by methods generally described in Louis F. Fieser and Mary Fieser, Reagents for Organic Synthesis, v. 1-19, Wiley, New York (1967-1999 ed.), or Beilsteins Handbuch der organischen Chemie, 4, Aufl. ed. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, including supplements (also available via the Beilstein online database)).

For illustrative purposes, the reaction schemes depicted below provide potential routes for synthesizing the compounds of the present invention as well as key intermediates. For a more detailed description of the individual reaction steps, see the Examples section below. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other synthetic routes may be used to synthesize the inventive compounds. Although specific starting materials and reagents are depicted in the schemes and discussed below, other starting materials and reagents can be easily substituted to provide a variety of derivatives and/or reaction conditions. In addition, many of the compounds prepared by the methods described below can be further modified in light of this disclosure using conventional chemistry well known to those skilled in the art.

In the preparation of compounds of the present invention, protection of remote functionality (e.g., primary or secondary amine) of intermediates may be necessary. The need for such protection will vary depending on the nature of the remote functionality and the conditions of the preparation methods. Suitable amino-protecting groups (NH-Pg) include acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, t-butoxycarbonyl (BOC), benzyloxycarbonyl (CBz) and 9-fluorenylmethyleneoxycarbonyl (Fmoc). Similarly, a “hydroxy-protecting group” refers to a substituent of a hydroxy group that blocks or protects the hydroxy functionality. Suitable hydroxyl-protecting groups (O-Pg) include for example, allyl, acetyl, silyl, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyl, trityl, and the like. The need for such protection is readily determined by one skilled in the art. For a general description of protecting groups and their use, see T. W. Greene, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1991.

The following reaction schemes, Reaction Scheme I through Reaction Scheme provide representative procedures that are used to prepare compounds of formula (I). It is to be understood that these reaction schemes are to be construed in a non-limiting manner and that reasonable variations of the depicted methods can be used to prepare compounds of formula (I).

Reaction Scheme I provides three synthetic routes from penultimate intermediates to compounds of formula (I). In Equation 1 the compound of Formula (II) is reacted with A^(2′)-L-A¹-C(O)Lg, wherein Lg is an appropriate leaving group such as hydroxy or halide, to provide the compound of Formula (I). For example, the compound (I) may be formed using a standard peptide coupling reaction with the desired carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H, wherein A^(2′) represents wither A² itself or a protected version of A² which can be deprotected to provide A²). For example, the spiropiperidine intermediate (II) and carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) may be coupled by forming an activated carboxylic acid ester, such as by contacting the carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) with a peptide coupling reagent, such as O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) or 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethyllaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl), in the presence or absence of an activating agent, such as hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and in the presence of a suitable base, such as N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIEA), triethylamine or N-methylmorpholine (NMM), in a suitable solvent such as THF and/or DMF or dichloromethane and then contacting the activated carboxylic acid ester with the spiropiperidine derivative (IIa) to form a compound of Formula (I). The reaction can typically carried out at 0° C. to 90° C. for a period of 1 to 24 hours.

Alternatively, compounds of Formula (I) can be formed by first converting the carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) to an acid chloride (A^(2′)-L-A¹-COCl), such as by reacting with thionyl chloride, and then reacting the acid chloride with the spiropiperidiene derivative (IIa) in the presence of an appropriate base such as triethylamine in an appropriate solvent such as dichloromethane to form a compound of Formula (I). Still another alternative method entails treating the carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) with 2-chloro-4,6-dimethoxytriazine in the presence of a suitable base, such as N-methylmorpholine in a suitable solvent such as THF and/or DMF. To the activated ester is added a solution of the spiropiperidine derivative (IIa) and base, such as N-methylmorpholine, in a suitable solvent, such as THF and/or DMF which the provides the compound of formula (I).

The second and third reactions depicted in Reaction Scheme I depict the preparation of the compound of Formula (I) using a Suzuki-type coupling reaction. The Suzuki-type coupling reactions can be carried out according to methods known to those skilled in the art such as those described in Miyaura, N.; Suzuki, A. Chem. Rev. 1995, 95, 2457-2483. In Equation 2 of Scheme 1 the compound of Formula (II′) in which Lg represents an appropriate leaving group such as triflate, chloro, bromo or iodo is reacted with an appropriately substituted boronate, A^(2′)-B(OR)₂. The reaction is typically carried out in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a base in an appropriate solvent. The boronate can be either in the form of a boronic acid or a boronic ester. In Equation 3 of Scheme 1 the boronate compound of Formula (II″) is reacted with an appropriately substituted compound A^(2′)-Lg in which Lg represents an appropriate leaving group such as triflate, chloro, bromo or iodo. It is to be appreciated that these reactions can be carried out where the A¹ and A² moieties in the compounds of formulae (II′) and (II″) may contain a protected carboxylic acid group which can subsequently be deprotected to provide an acid group in the compound of formula (I).

Reaction Scheme IA outlines the general procedures one could use to provide compounds of the present invention having Formula (Ia) which are compounds of Formula (I) in which R² and each R³ are each hydrogen and Z is CH₂. The protected spiropiperidine derivative (VIIIa) may be formed by treating the appropriately protected piperidine aldehyde (Xa) with methyl vinyl ketone (IXa). The group Pg represents an appropriate amine protecting group and is preferably N-tert-butoxycarbonyl (BOC) or carbobenzyloxy (Cbz). This reaction can be carried out in the presence of ethanolic potassium hydroxide according to a procedure analogous to that described by Roy, S. et al., Chem. Eur. J. 2006, 12, 3777-3788 at 3786. Alternatively, the reaction can be carried out in the presence of para-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) in refluxing benzene to provide the desired product (VIIIa). The spiropiperidine derivative (VIIIa) can then be reacted with tris-(N,N-dimethylamino) methane in refluxing toluene to provide the enamine functionalized spiropiperidine derivative (Vila). Compound (Vila) is then reacted with an appropriate hydrazine derivative R¹NHNH² in the presence of acetic acid in refluxing ethanol to provide the desired cyclized compound of formula (VIa) (see Murali Dhar, T. G. et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2007, 17, 5019-5024 at 5020. The compound of formula (VIa) can then be treated with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of water in THF to provide the corresponding bromo hydroxy derivative of formula (Va). The bromo hydroxy derivative (Va) is then oxidized with Jones reagent in a method analogous to that provided in Wolinsky, J. et al., J. Org. Chem. 1978, 43(5), 875-881 at 876, 879 to provide the □-bromo keto derivative of formula (IVa). The compound of formula (IVa) can then be debrominated using conventional methods such as treatment with zinc and acetic acid or alternatively, zinc in the presence of aqueous ammonium chloride to provide the compound of formula (IIIa).

The compound of formula (IIIa) can then be deprotected to provide the free spiropiperidine derivative of formula (IIa) using standard methods which depend on which protecting group Pg has been employed. For example, when Pg represents tert-butyloxycarbonyl (BOC) standard strong acid deprotection conditions such as 4N hydrochloric acid in dioxane or trifluoroacetic acid in an appropriate solvent such as dichloromethane can be used to remove the BOC group. When Pg represents carbobenzyloxy (Cbz), hydrogenation over palladium on carbon in ethanol or treatment with ammonium formate in the presence of palladium on carbon in ethanol can be employed to carry out the deprotection.

The spiropiperidine derivative of Formula (IIa) can then be acylated by employing standard methods to provide the compound of Formula (Ia). For example, the compound (la) may then be formed using a standard peptide coupling reaction with the desired carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H, wherein A^(2′) represents either A² itself or a protected version of A² which can be deprotected to provide A²). For example, The spiropiperidine intermediate (IIa) and carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) may be coupled by forming an activated carboxylic acid ester, such as by contacting the carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) with a peptide coupling reagent, such as O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) or 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl), in the presence or absence of an activating agent, such as hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and in the presence of a suitable base, such as N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIEA), triethylamine or N-methylmorpholine (NMM), in a suitable solvent such as THF and/or DMF or dichloromethane and then contacting the activated carboxylic acid ester with the spiropiperidine derivative (IIa) to form a compound of Formula (Ia).

Alternatively, compounds of Formula (Ia) can be formed by first converting the carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) to an acid chloride (A^(2′)-L-A¹-COCl), such as by reacting with thionyl chloride, and then reacting the acid chloride with the spiropiperidiene derivative (IIa) in the presence of an appropriate base such as triethylamine in an appropriate solvent such as dichloromethane to form a compound of Formula (Ia). Still another alternative method entails treating the carboxylic acid (A^(2′)-L-A¹-CO₂H) with 2-chloro-4,6-dimethoxytriazine in the presence of a suitable base, such as N-methylmorpholine in a suitable solvent such as THF and/or DMF. To the activated ester is added a solution of the spiropiperidine derivative (IIa) and base, such as N-methylmorpholine, in a suitable solvent, such as THF and/or DMF which the provides the compound of formula (Ia).

Reaction Scheme II provides an alternative synthesis of compounds of formula (Ia) starting from the intermediate of formula (VIa). The compound of formula (VIa) is treated with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of methanol in THF (Nishimura, T. et al. Org. Lett. 2008, 10(18), 4057-4060 at 4059) to provide the methoxy bromo spiropiperidine derivative of formula (Vb). Base induced elimination of compound (Vb) by treatment with a strong base such as potassium tert-butoxide in THF provides the compound of formula (IVb) which is then treated with a strong acid such as 2N hydrochloric acid in THF to provide the compound of formula (IIIa). Compound (IIIa) can then be deprotected and acylated as described previously in Reaction Scheme I to provide compounds of formula (Ia).

Reaction Scheme III provides a synthesis of compounds of formula (Ib) which are compounds of formula (I) in which R² is bromo and each R³ is hydrogen. The compound of formula (VIa) is reacted with approximately two equivalents of N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of methanol to provide the dibromo methoxy spiropiperidine derivative of formula (Vc). Compound (Vc) is then subjected to elimination conditions by treatment with a strong base such as potassium tert-butoxide in an appropriate solvent to provide the compound of formula (IVc). Treatment of the compound of formula (IVc) with strong acid such as 2N hydrochloric acid provides the compound of formula (IIIb). Deprotection of compound (IIIb) to provide compound (IIb) followed by acylation to provide the compound of formula (Ib) can be carried out as described previously for Reaction Scheme I.

Reaction Scheme IV depicts the preparation of certain other compounds within formula (I) from certain of the intermediates previously depicted. The first reaction in Scheme IV shows introduction of a methyl group at the R² position by reacting the bromo spiropiperidine derivative of formula (IIIb) with trimethoxyborate in the presence of an appropriate palladium catalyst, such as palladium tetrakis triphenylphosphine in the presence of potassium carbonate and water to provide (IIIc). Other alkyl groups can be introduced at the R² position in an analogous manner. The compound of formula (IIIc) can then be deprotected and acylated as previously described. The second reaction in Reaction Scheme IV depicts introduction of a cyano group at the R² position. The bromo spiropiperidine compound (IIIb) is reacted with zinc cyanide in the presence of zinc and an appropriate palladium catalyst to provide (IIId) which can then be deprotected and acylated to provide a compound of formula (Id). The third reaction in Scheme IV depicts introduction of an appropriate group at the R³ position of the compound (IIIe). The compound (IIIe) is deprotonated with a strong base, such as lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LHMDS) under appropriate anhydrous conditions in an appropriate solvent, preferably at low temperature. The enolate thus formed is then reacted with an appropriate electrophile R³Lg wherein Lg represents an appropriate leaving group (such as a halide when R³Lg is an alkyl halide) to provide (IIIf) wherein R³ is an appropriate group such as an alkyl group. The deprotonation of (IIIf) and reaction with another R³Lg can then be carried out again if desired to prepare a di-R³ (IIIf) compound wherein the R³ groups may be the same or different. The compound of formula (IIIf) can then be deprotected and acylated as previously described to provide the compound of formula (Ie).

Reaction Scheme VI provides the synthesis of compounds within Formula (I) wherein R¹ is isopropyl, R² is hydrogen, each R³ is hydrogen and Z is oxygen. 1-(1-(4-methoxy benzyl)-4-hydroxy-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)ethanone is reacted with 1-benzyl piperidin-4-one in refluxing methanol in the presence of pyrrolidine to provide the deprotected spiro-compound (IIIg). The para-methoxybenzyl group of (IIIg) is then removed upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid in dichloroethane at an elevated temperature, such as 90° C., to provide the benzyl protected N-1 (H) pyrazole derivative (IIIh). This benzyl protected N-1(H) pyrazole derivative compound is then subjected to Mitsonubo coupling conditions using isopropanol in the presence of Di-t-butylazodicarboxylate (DBAD) and triphenylphosphine in tetrahydrofuran to provide the corresponding benzyl protected N-1-isopropyl compound (IIIi). The benzyl protected N-1-isopropyl compound can then be debenzylated upon treatment with α-chloroethyl chloroformate (ACE-CI) and methanol to provide the corresponding free spiropiperidine derivative (IIc). The free spiropiperidine derivative (IIc) can then be acylated as previously described to provide the compounds of Formula (If).

Reaction Scheme VII depicts the hydrolysis of a protected acid intermediate of Formula (ID to provide the acid bearing compound of Formula (Ig). For example, the compound of Formula (ID where R represents an appropriate acid protecting group such as t-butyl or para-methoxybenzyl can be treated with a strong acid such as trifluoroacetic acid or hydrochloric acid in an appropriate solvent such as dichloromethane to provide the compound of Formula (Ig). In this Reaction Scheme the acid group is shown as appended onto A^(2′) and the acid taken together with A^(2′) represent the group A² in the compound of Formula (I). It is to be appreciated that the acid group may also be part of A¹ in a like manner.

Reaction Scheme VIII provides methods useful for preparing certain intermediates useful in the preparation of compounds of Formula (I). Equation 1 of Reaction Scheme VIII provides a Suzuki-type coupling between an appropriate acid derivative X-A¹-CO₂R^(a) with an appropriate boronate (RO)₂B-A^(2′)-CO₂R^(b) wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are differentially protected or one of R^(a) and R^(b) is hydrogen, X is a halide or sulfonate such as triflate and R is hydrogen or an alkyl such as methyl. Equation 2 of Reaction Scheme VIII provides another Suzuki-type coupling between X-A¹-CO₂R^(a) with an appropriate boronate (RO)₂B-A^(2′)-tetrazolyl. The Suzuki-type coupling can be carried out as described previously in Reaction Scheme I. The final intermediate compound of Equation 1 and 2 wherein R^(a) is hydrogen can then be used in acylation type reactions with a compound of Formula (II) as described in Equation 1 of Reaction Scheme I.

Reaction Scheme IX provides another method useful for preparing certain intermediates useful for preparing compounds of Formula (I). Equation 1 of Reaction Scheme IX depicts the reaction of 2,6-dichloronicotinic acid with an appropriately substituted boronate (where R is hydrogen or alkyl such as methyl and R^(b) is typically an acid protecting group such as t-butyl) under Suzuki-type coupling conditions to provide the 2-chloro-6-substituted nicotinic acid. The 2-chloro-6-substituted nicotinic acid can then be reacted with an appropriate nucleophile HY-R′ (wherein R′ is typically alkyl optionally substituted with halo, R″ is typically alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or isopropyl) to provide the disubstituted nicotinic acid derivative. Alternatively, the reaction can be carried out by first reacting it with the nucleophile HY-R′ followed by the Suzuki-type coupling with the boronate as described above. The disubstituted nicotinic acid derivative can then be employed in acylation reactions with compounds of Formula (II) followed by deprotection as necessary as described in Reaction Scheme I to provide compounds of Formula (I) wherein A¹ is the substituted pyridine moiety as shown. Equation 2 of Reaction Scheme IX depicts reacting 5-bromo-6-chloronicotinic acid with an appropriate nucleophile HY-R′ to provide the 5-bromo-6-substituted nicotinic acid derivative which is then reacted with an appropriate boronate under Suzuki-type coupling conditions to provide the 5,6-disubstituted nicotinic acid derivative. The 5,6-disubstituted nicotinic acid derivative can then be employed in acylation reactions with compounds of Formula (II) followed by deprotection as necessary as previously described in Reaction Scheme I to provide compounds of Formula (I) wherein A¹ is the substituted pyridine moiety as shown.

The compounds of the present invention may be isolated and used per se or in the form of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. In accordance with the present invention, compounds with multiple basic nitrogen atoms can form salts with varying number of equivalents (“eq.”) of acid. It will be understood by practitioners that all such salts are within the scope of the present invention.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as used herein in relation to compounds of the present invention, include pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic salts of said compound. These salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of a compound, or by separately reacting the compound thereof, with a suitable organic or inorganic acid and isolating the salt thus formed. Representative salts include, but are not limited to, the hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroiodide, sulfate, bisulfate, nitrate, acetate, trifluoroacetate, oxalate, besylate, palmitate, pamoate, malonate, stearate, laurate, malate, borate, benzoate, lactate, phosphate, hexafluorophosphate, benzene sulfonate, tosylate, formate, citrate, maleate, fumarate, succinate, tartrate, naphthylate, mesylate, glucoheptonate, lactobionate and laurylsulphonate salts, and the like. These may also include cations based on the alkali and alkaline earth metals, such as sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like, as well as non-toxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations including, but not limited to, ammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, methylammonium, dimethylammonium, trimethylammonium, triethylammonium, ethylammonium, and the like. For additional examples see, for example, Berge, et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 66, 1-19 (1977).

Certain compounds of the present invention may exist in more than one crystal form. Polymorphs of compounds of Formula (I) and salts thereof (including solvates and hydrates) form part of this invention and may be prepared by crystallization of a compound of the present invention under different conditions. For example, using different solvents or different solvent mixtures for recrystallization; crystallization at different temperatures; various modes of cooling, ranging from very fast to very slow cooling during crystallization. Polymorphs may also be obtained by heating or melting a compound of the present invention followed by gradual or fast cooling. The presence of polymorphs may be determined by solid probe nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction or such other techniques.

This invention also includes isotopically-labeled compounds, which are identical to those described by Formula (I), but for the fact that one or more atoms are replaced by an atom having an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number usually found in nature. Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into compounds of the invention include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and fluorine, such as ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, ³⁵S, ³⁶Cl, ¹²⁵I, ¹²⁹I, and ¹⁸F respectively. Certain isotopically-labeled compounds of the present invention, for example those into which radioactive isotopes such as ³H and ¹⁴C are incorporated, are useful in drug and/or substrate tissue distribution assays. Tritiated (i.e., ³H), and carbon-14 (i.e., ¹⁴C), isotopes are particularly preferred for their ease of preparation and detectability. Further, substitution with heavier isotopes such as deuterium (i.e., ²H), can afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, for example increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements and, hence, may be preferred in some circumstances. Isotopically labeled compounds of the present invention can generally be prepared by carrying out the procedures disclosed in the schemes and/or in the Examples below, by substituting a readily available isotopically labeled reagent for a non-isotopically labeled reagent.

The compounds of the present invention may contain stereogenic centers. These compounds may exist as mixtures of enantiomers or as pure enantiomers. Wherein a compound includes a stereogenic center, the compounds may be resolved into the pure enantiomers by methods known to those skilled in the art, for example by formation of diastereoisomeric salts which may be separated, for example, by crystallization; formation of stereoisomeric derivatives or complexes which may be separated, for example, by crystallization, gas-liquid or liquid chromatography; selective reaction of one enantiomer with an enantiomer-specific reagent, for example enzymatic esterification; or gas-liquid or liquid chromatography in a chiral environment, for example on a chiral support for example silica with a bound chiral ligand or in the presence of a chiral solvent. It will be appreciated that where the desired stereoisomer is converted into another chemical entity by one of the separation procedures described above, a further step is required to liberate the desired enantiomeric form. Alternatively, the specific stereoisomers may be synthesized by using an optically active starting material, by asymmetric synthesis using optically active reagents, substrates, catalysts or solvents, or by converting one stereoisomer into the other by asymmetric transformation.

Certain compounds of the present invention may exist in different stable conformational forms which may be separable. Torsional asymmetry due to restricted rotation about an asymmetric single bond, for example because of steric hindrance or ring strain, may permit separation of different conformers. The compounds of the present invention further include each conformational isomer of compounds of Formula (I) and mixtures thereof.

Compounds of the present invention are useful for treating diseases, conditions and/or disorders modulated by the inhibition of the acetyl-CoA carboxylases enzyme(s) (in particular, ACC1 and ACC2); therefore, another embodiment of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent or carrier. The compounds of the present invention (including the compositions and processes used therein) may also be used in the manufacture of a medicament for the therapeutic applications described herein.

A typical formulation is prepared by mixing a compound of the present invention and a carrier, diluent or excipient. Suitable carriers, diluents and excipients are well known to those skilled in the art and include materials such as carbohydrates, waxes, water soluble and/or swellable polymers, hydrophilic or hydrophobic materials, gelatin, oils, solvents, water, and the like. The particular carrier, diluent or excipient used will depend upon the means and purpose for which the compound of the present invention is being applied. Solvents are generally selected based on solvents recognized by persons skilled in the art as safe (GRAS) to be administered to a mammal. In general, safe solvents are non-toxic aqueous solvents such as water and other non-toxic solvents that are soluble or miscible in water. Suitable aqueous solvents include water, ethanol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols (e.g., PEG400, PEG300), etc. and mixtures thereof. The formulations may also include one or more buffers, stabilizing agents, surfactants, wetting agents, lubricating agents, emulsifiers, suspending agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opaquing agents, glidants, processing aids, colorants, sweeteners, perfuming agents, flavoring agents and other known additives to provide an elegant presentation of the drug (i.e., a compound of the present invention or pharmaceutical composition thereof) or aid in the manufacturing of the pharmaceutical product (i.e., medicament).

The formulations may be prepared using conventional dissolution and mixing procedures. For example, the bulk drug substance (i.e., compound of the present invention or stabilized form of the compound (e.g., complex with a cyclodextrin derivative or other known complexation agent)) is dissolved in a suitable solvent in the presence of one or more of the excipients described above. The dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble compounds may be enhanced by the use of a spray-dried dispersion, such as those described by Takeuchi, H., et al. in “Enhancement of the dissolution rate of a poorly water-soluble drug (tolbutamide) by a spray-drying solvent deposition method and disintegrants” J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 39, 769-773 (1987); and EP0901786 B1 (US2002/009494), incorporated herein by reference. The compound of the present invention is typically formulated into pharmaceutical dosage forms to provide an easily controllable dosage of the drug and to give the patient an elegant and easily handleable product.

The pharmaceutical compositions also include solvates and hydrates of the compounds of the present invention. The term “solvate” refers to a molecular complex of a compound represented by Formula (I) (including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof) with one or more solvent molecules. Such solvent molecules are those commonly used in the pharmaceutical art, which are known to be innocuous to the recipient, e.g., water, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and the like, The term “hydrate” refers to the complex where the solvent molecule is water. The solvates and/or hydrates preferably exist in crystalline form. Other solvents may be used as intermediate solvates in the preparation of more desirable solvates, such as methanol, methyl t-butyl ether, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, (S)-propylene glycol, (R)-propylene glycol, 1,4-butyne-diol, and the like.

The pharmaceutical composition (or formulation) for application may be packaged in a variety of ways depending upon the method used for administering the drug. Generally, an article for distribution includes a container having deposited therein the pharmaceutical formulation in an appropriate form. Suitable containers are well-known to those skilled in the art and include materials such as bottles (plastic and glass), sachets, ampoules, plastic bags, metal cylinders, and the like. The container may also include a tamper-proof assemblage to prevent indiscreet access to the contents of the package. In addition, the container has deposited thereon a label that describes the contents of the container. The label may also include appropriate warnings.

The present invention further provides a method of treating diseases, conditions and/or disorders modulated by the inhibition of the acetyl-CoA carboxylases enzyme(s) in an animal that includes administering to an animal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier. The method is particularly useful for treating diseases, conditions and/or disorders that benefit from the inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylases enzyme(s).

One aspect of the present invention is the treatment of obesity, and obesity-related disorders (e.g., overweight, weight gain, or weight maintenance).

Obesity and overweight are generally defined by body mass index (BMI), which is correlated with total body fat and estimates the relative risk of disease. BMI is calculated by weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). Overweight is typically defined as a BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m², and obesity is typically defined as a BMI of 30 kg/m². See, e.g., National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, The Evidence Report, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH publication no. 98-4083 (1998).

Another aspect of the present invention is for the treatment or delaying the progression or onset of diabetes or diabetes-related disorders including Type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, also referred to as “IDDM”) and Type 2 (noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, also referred to as “NIDDM”) diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and diabetic complications (such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, nephropathy, hypertension, neuropathy, and retinopathy).

In yet another aspect of the present invention is the treatment of obesity co-morbidities, such as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome includes diseases, conditions or disorders such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes (e.g., Type 2 diabetes), coronary artery disease and heart failure. For more detailed information on Metabolic Syndrome, see, e.g., Zimmet, P. Z., et al., “The Metabolic Syndrome: Perhaps an Etiologic Mystery but Far From a Myth—Where Does the International Diabetes Federation Stand?,” Diabetes & Endocrinology, 7(2), (2005); and Alberti, K. G., et al., “The Metabolic Syndrome—A New Worldwide Definition,” Lancet, 366, 1059-62 (2005). Preferably, administration of the compounds of the present invention provides a statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as lowering of plasma leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or cholesterol, as compared to a vehicle control containing no drug. The administration of compounds of the present invention may also provide a statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in glucose serum levels.

In yet another aspect of the invention is the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and heptic insulin resistance.

For a normal adult human having a body weight of about 100 kg, a dosage in the range of from about 0.001 mg to about 10 mg per kilogram body weight is typically sufficient, preferably from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 5.0 mg/kg, more preferably from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 1 mg/kg. However, some variability in the general dosage range may be required depending upon the age and weight of the subject being treated, the intended route of administration, the particular compound being administered and the like. The determination of dosage ranges and optimal dosages for a particular patient is well within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure. It is also noted that the compounds of the present invention can be used in sustained release, controlled release, and delayed release formulations, which forms are also well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The compounds of the present invention may also be used in conjunction with other pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of the diseases, conditions and/or disorders described herein. Therefore, methods of treatment that include administering compounds of the present invention in combination with other pharmaceutical agents are also provided. Suitable pharmaceutical agents that may be used in combination with the compounds of the present invention include anti-obesity agents (including appetite suppressants), anti-diabetic agents, anti-hyperglycemic agents, lipid lowering agents, and anti-hypertensive agents.

Suitable anti-obesity agents include 11β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase-1 (11β-HSD type 1) inhibitors, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) inhibitor, MCR-4 agonists, cholecystokinin-A (CCK-A) agonists, monoamine reuptake inhibitors (such as sibutramine), sympathomimetic agents, β₃ adrenergic agonists, dopamine agonists (such as bromocriptine), melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogs, 5HT2c agonists, melanin concentrating hormone antagonists, leptin (the OB protein), leptin analogs, leptin agonists, galanin antagonists, lipase inhibitors (such as tetrahydrolipstatin, i.e. orlistat), anorectic agents (such as a bombesin agonist), neuropeptide-Y antagonists (e.g., NPY Y5 antagonists), PYY₃₋₃₆ (including analogs thereof), thyromimetic agents, dehydroepiandrosterone or an analog thereof, glucocorticoid agonists or antagonists, orexin antagonists, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, ciliary neurotrophic factors (such as Axokine™ available from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY and Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH), human agouti-related protein (AGRP) inhibitors, ghrelin antagonists, histamine 3 antagonists or inverse agonists, neuromedin U agonists, MTP/ApoB inhibitors (e.g., gut-selective MTP inhibitors, such as dirlotapide), opioid antagonist, orexin antagonist, and the like.

Preferred anti-obesity agents for use in the combination aspects of the present invention include gut-selective MTP inhibitors (e.g., dirlotapide, mitratapide and implitapide, R56918 (CAS No. 403987) and CAS No. 913541-47-6), CCKa agonists (e.g., N-benzyl-2-[4-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-2,3,6,10b-tetraaza-benzo[e]azulen-6-yl]-N-isopropyl-acetamide described in PCT Publication No. WO 2005/116034 or US Publication No. 2005-0267100 A1), 5HT2c agonists (e.g., lorcaserin), MCR4 agonist (e.g., compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,658), lipase inhibitor (e.g., Cetilistat), PYY₃₋₃₆ (as used herein “PYY₃₋₃₆” includes analogs, such as pegylated PYY₃₋₃₆ e.g., those described in US Publication 2006/0178501), opioid antagonists (e.g., naltrexone), oleoyl-estrone (CAS No. 180003-17-2), obinepitide (TM30338), pramlintide (Symlin®), tesofensine (NS2330), leptin, liraglutide, bromocriptine, orlistat, exenatide (Byetta®), AOD-9604 (CAS No. 221231-10-3) and sibutramine. Preferably, compounds of the present invention and combination therapies are administered in conjunction with exercise and a sensible diet.

Suitable anti-diabetic agents include a sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT) inhibitor, a phosphodiesterase (PDE)-10 inhibitor, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) 1 or 2 inhibitor, a sulfonylurea (e.g., acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, diabinese, glibenclamide, glipizide, glyburide, glimepiride, gliclazide, glipentide, gliquidone, glisolamide, tolazamide, and tolbutamide), a meglitinide, an α-amylase inhibitor (e.g., tendamistat, trestatin and AL-3688), an α-glucoside hydrolase inhibitor (e.g., acarbose), an α-glucosidase inhibitor (e.g., adiposine, camiglibose, emiglitate, miglitol, voglibose, pradimicin-Q, and salbostatin), a PPARγ agonist (e.g., balaglitazone, ciglitazone, darglitazone, englitazone, isaglitazone, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone and troglitazone), a PPAR α/γ agonist (e.g., CLX-0940, GW-1536, GW-1929, GW-2433, KRP-297, L-796449, LR-90, MK-0767 and SB-219994), a biguanide (e.g., metformin), a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist (e.g., Byetta™, exendin-3 and exendin-4), a protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) inhibitor (e.g., trodusquemine, hyrtiosal extract, and compounds disclosed by Zhang, S., et al., Drug Discovery Today, 12(9/10), 373-381 (2007)), SIRT-1 inhibitor (e.g., reservatrol), a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor (e.g., sitagliptin, vildagliptin, alogliptin and saxagliptin), an insulin secretagogue, a fatty acid oxidation inhibitor, an A2 antagonist, a c-jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, insulin, an insulin mimetic, a glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor, a VPAC2 receptor agonist and a glucokinase activator. Preferred anti-diabetic agents are metformin, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist (e.g, Byetta™) and DPP-IV inhibitors (e.g., sitagliptin, vildagliptin, alogliptin and saxagliptin).

All of the above recited U.S. patents and publications are incorporated herein by reference.

The Examples set forth herein below are for illustrative purposes only. The compositions, methods, and various parameters reflected herein are intended only to exemplify various aspects and embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention in any way.

EXAMPLES

The compounds and intermediates described below were generally named according to the IUPAC (International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry) recommendations on Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry and the CAS Index rules. Unless noted otherwise, all reactants were obtained commercially. All of the references cited herein below are incorporated by reference.

Flash chromatography was performed according to the method described by Still et al., J. Org. Chem., 1978, 43, 2923.

All Biotage® purifications, discussed herein, were performed using either a 40M or 40S Biotage® column containing KP-SIL silica (40-63 μM, 60 Angstroms) (Bioatge AB; Uppsala, Sweden).

All Combiflash® purifications, discussed herein, were performed using a CombiFlash® Companion system (Teledyne Isco; Lincoln, Nebraska) utilizing to packed RediSep® silica columns

Mass Spectra were recorded on a Waters (Waters Corp.; Milford, MA) Micromass Platform II spectrometer. Unless otherwise specified, mass spectra were recorded on a Waters (Milford, MA) Micromass Platform II spectrometer.

Proton NMR chemical shifts are given in parts per million downfield from tetramethylsilane and were recorded on a Varian Unity 400 or 500 MHz (megaHertz) spectrometer (Varian Inc.; Palo Alto, CA). NMR chemical shifts are given in parts per million downfield from tetramethylsilane (for proton) or fluorotrichloromethane (for fluorine).

The preparations described below were used in the synthesis of compounds exemplified in the following examples.

Preparation of Intermediates and Starting Materials Intermediate 1

5-(4-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-6-ethoxynicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. 5-Bromo-6-ethoxynicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

A slurry of 5-bromo-6-chloronicotinic acid (240 mg, 1.0 mmol) and sodium ethoxide (138 mg, 2.0 mmol) in anhydrous ethanol (2 mL) was heated under microwave conditions at 100° C. for 15 min; an additional portion of sodium ethoxide (79 mg, 1.0 mmol) was added and heating was continued for 1 hr. After cooling the reaction mixture was adjusted to a pH of 4 with 1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid, the resulting solids collected and dried in vacuo to afford 5-bromo-6-ethoxynicotinic acid (140 mg). 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) d ppm 1.33 (t, J=7.02 Hz, 3H) 4.43 (q, J=7.09 Hz, 2H) 8.32 (d, J=2.15 Hz, 1H) 8.64 (d, J=1.95 Hz, 1H) 13.28 (br. s., 1H); m/z=248.2 (M+1).

Step 2. The title compound, shown above, was prepared as follows: A slurry of 5-bromo-6-ethoxynicotinic acid (60 mg, 0.24 mmol), 4-tert-butoxycarbonylphenylboronic acid (70 mg, 0.32 mmol), 2 N aqueous sodium carbonate (0.37 mL, 0.73 mmol) and palladium 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene dichloride (9 mg, 0.05 mmol) in p-dioxane (2 mL) were heated at 100° C. for 2 hr. An additional portion of 4-tert-butylcarboxylphenylboronic acid (70 mg, 0.32 mmol) and palladium 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene dichloride (9 mg, 0.05 mmol) were added and heating was continued for 1.5 hr. The reaction mixture was cooled, diluted into water, pH adjusted to ˜5 using 1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid. This mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×), the combined organic layers washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound (100 mg), which was utilized without further purification; m/z=344.2 (M+1).

Intermediate 2

2-(4-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-6-(dimethylamino)isonicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. 2-Chloro-6-(dimethylamino)isonicotinic acid, hydrochloride salt, shown below, was prepared as follows.

2,6-Dichloroisonicotinic acid (2.00 g, 10.42 mmol) was placed in a pressure tube and a solution of dimethylamine in tetrahydrofuran (26 mL, 2 M, 52 mmol) added. The vessel was sealed and heated for 22 h at 80° C. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, transferred to a round-bottom flask and concentrated to dryness. The resulting white semi-solid was taken up in 30 mL of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution. 1 N HCl was added dropwise with stirring to adjust the pH of the solution to ca. 3.5, at which point a pale yellow solid formed. This was collected by filtration and dried under vacuum at 45° C. overnight to provide 2-chloro-6-(dimethylamino)isonicotinic acid inner salt (916 mg, 44%). Further acidification of the aqueous solution to pH 1 resulted in the formation of a bright yellow solid, which was also collected and dried under vacuum to give 2-chloro-6-(dimethylamino) isonicotinic acid hydrochloride (1.15 g, 46%). m/z: 201+ [M+H]; 199− [M−H]. For the HCl salt: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 13.64 (br. s., 1H), 6.96 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.89 (d, J=0.8 Hz, 1H), 3.06 (s, 6H), 2.53 (t, J=5.1 Hz, 1H).

For the inner salt: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 6.95 (s, 1H), 6.88 (s, 1H), 3.04 (s, 6H).

Step 2. 2-(4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-6-(dimethylamino)isonicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

2-Chloro-6-(dimethylamino)isonicotinic acid (450 mg, 2.24 mmol), 4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)benzene boronic acid (648 mg, 2.92 mmol), 1,4-dioxane (7.5 mL) and sodium carbonate (713 mg, 6.73 mmol) dissolved in water (3.36 mL) were placed in a flask and the mixture bubbled with nitrogen while stirring for 10 min. Palladium(II) acetate (20 mg, 0.09 mmol) and 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl (75 mg, 0.18 mmol) were then added together and the vessel flushed with nitrogen, sealed, and heated at 90° C. for 5 h. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethyl acetate (50 mL), acidified to pH 2 with 1.5 N HCl and filtered through a pad of celite. The layers were separated and the aqueous portion extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 mL). The combined organic portions were treated with anhydrous sodium sulfate and decolorizing charcoal and stirred for 30 min before filtering. The solution was concentrated to dryness and the residue purified by trituration with a mixture of methyl tert-butyl ether (5 mL) and heptane (100 mL). The solids were collected by filtration and dried to give 2-(4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-6-(dimethylamino)isonicotinic acid (502 mg, 65%) as a pale yellow powder. m/z: 343+ [M+H]; 341− [M−H]; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 8.12-8.21 (m, 2H), 8.04-8.11 (m, 2H), 7.67 (s, 1H), 7.16 (s, 1H), 3.23 (s, 6H), 1.64 (s, 9H).

Intermediate 3

2-(4-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-6-ethoxyisonicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Sodium (65 mg, 3 mmol) was added to absolute ethanol (3 mL) under argon at RT. After completed dissolution of the sodium, the freshly prepared ethoxide solution was added to 2,6-dichloronicotinic acid 1 (0.5 g, 2.6 mmol). This mixture was heated in a microwave at 150° C. for 3 hrs. The mixture was concentrated to dryness to provide crude 2-chloro-6-ethoxyisonicotinic acid (0.5 g), which was used without purification. m/z: 202+ [M+H]

The crude 2-chloro-6-ethoxyisonicotinic acid (0.5 g, ca. 2.6 mmol), 4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl) benzene boronic acid (0.5 g, 2.2 mmol), potassium carbonate (0.5 g, 3.6 mmol) and water (0.1 mL) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (10 mL) were stirred and degassed for 10 min. Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0.1 g, 0.08 mmol) was then added. The sealed tube was then heated over night at 90° C. After cooling the reaction was passed through a plug a celite and partitioned between dichloromethane and water. The organic solution was concentrated and the crude residue purified by chromatography (silica gel, 10% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford the title compound (97 mg, 20%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 8.11 (2H, d), 8.08 (2H, d), 7.96 (1H, s), 7.34 (1H, s), 4.54 (2H, qd), 1.61 (9H, s), 1.46 (3H, t); m/z: 344+ [M+H].

Intermediate 4

2-((2-Tert-butoxy-2-oxoethyl)(methyl)amino)-6-methoxyisonicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

A slurry of 2-chloro-6-methoxyisonicotinic acid (100 mg, 0.53 mmol), sacrcosine tert-butyl ester (116 mg, (0.64 mmol), chloro(di-2-norborylphosphino)(2-dimethylaminomethylferrocen-1yl)palladium (II) (9.8 mg, 0.02 mmol) and sodium tert-butoxide (128 mg, 1.3 mmol) in p-dioxane (3 mL) were stirred at 110° C. for 18 hr. The reaction mixture was cooled and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue was diluted with water, pH adjusted to 4 with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×10 mL). The combined organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, concentrated in vacuo and the residue flash chromatographed (0-10% methanol/dichloromethane) to afford the title compound (60 mg) as a yellow solid. m/z=297.5 (M+1).

Intermediate 5

2-(4-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-6-methoxyisonicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

2-Chloro-6-methoxyisonicotinic acid (15.0 g, 80.0 mmol), tert-butyl 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzoate (29.2 g, 96.0 mmol), 1,4-dioxane (500 mL) and sodium carbonate (25.4 g, 240 mmol) dissolved in water (160 mL) were combined in a 1 L, 3 necked flask equipped with an internal thermometer, condenser and nitrogen inlet. The solution was degassed by bubbling with nitrogen for 15 min while stirring. Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (3.70 g, 3.20 mmol) was then added and the mixture heated to reflux for 17 h. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and concentrated under vacuum to give a thick brown suspension, which was portioned between ethyl acetate (400 mL) and water (150 mL). The aqueous layer was separated and extracted with further ethyl acetate (2×100 mL). The organic portions were combined and washed with 1 N HCl and water, and the black solids removed by filtration through a pad of celite. The aqueous layer was discarded and the organic solution dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered. The solution was then treated with decolorizing charcoal and heated to 70° C. for 20 min. The solution was then filtered through celite while hot and the solvent removed under vacuum to afford a yellow powder. This material was purified by addition of methyl tert-butyl ether (55 mL) followed by the slow addition of 1.85 L heptane with stirring. The mixture was stirred for 2 days and then filtered to give 2-acid (22.01 g, 84%) as a pale yellow powder. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 1.61 (s, 9H) 4.08 (s, 3H) 7.34 (d, J=0.98 Hz, 1H) 7.97 (d, J=1.17 Hz, 1H) 8.09 (s, 2H) 8.13 (s, 2H); m/z: 330.2+ [M+H].

Intermediate 6

6-(4-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-2-(methylamino)nicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. 6-Chloro-2-(methylamino)nicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

To a steel autoclave was added 2,6-dichloronicotinic acid (tech.) (30 g, 156.2 mmoles), tetrahydrofuran (30 mL) and monomethylamine (68.2 mL. 33 wt % in ethanol, 500 mmol). The reaction vessel was heated at 100° C. for 4 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and the solution transferred from the autoclave to a 500 mL flask and concentrated under vacuum to give a green solid. The solid was dissolved in 300 mL MeOH and 1.2 L EtOAc, poured into a separatory funnel and washed with 1N HCl (2×300 mL) and brine. The organic solution was then concentrated to dryness to yield 6-chloro-2-(methylamino)nicotinic acid (29 g, 96%) as an off-white solid.

1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm 13.14 (br. s., 1H), 8.17 (d, J=2.7 Hz, 1H), 8.00 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.57 (br. s., 1H), 6.58 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 2.89 (d, J=4.1 Hz, 3H).

m/z: 187+ [M+H]; 185− [M−H]

Step 2. To a 2 L 3-neck flask was added 6-chloro-2-(methylamino)nicotinic acid (22.9 g, 122.6 mmol), tert-butyl 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzoate (31.2 g, 102.6 mmol), 1,4-dioxane (1.02 L) and sodium carbonate (32.6 g, 307.7 mmol) dissolved in water (300 mL). The mixture was bubbled with dry nitrogen while stirring for 20 min. Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (5.93 g, 5.13 mmol) was then added and the mixture heated to reflux (89° C.) for 2 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, water (250 mL) added, and the mixture stirred for 10 min. The mixture was extracted with 1.5 L of ethyl acetate and the organic layer separated and washed with 10% aqueous sodium carbonate (250 mL), 1 N HCl (2×250 mL) and brine. The solution was then concentrated to a minimum stirring volume, methanol (650 mL) added and the mixture heated at reflux to dissolve the solids. 300 mL MeOH was removed by distillation and 100 mL water added. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and the product collected by filtration, washed with 150 mL of 2:1 methanol/water, and dried in the vacuum oven to afford the title compound (24 g, 71%) as a yellow solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 8.27 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 8.13-8.21 (m, 2H), 8.03-8.13 (m, 2H), 7.82 (br. s., 1H), 7.11 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.21 (s, 3H), 1.63 (s, 9H); m/z: 329+ [M+H]; 327− [M−H].

Intermediate 7

6-(3-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-2-(ethylamino)nicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. 6-(3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-2-chloronicotinic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

2,6-Dichloronicotinic acid (1.20 g, 6.25 mmol), 3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)benzene boronic acid (2.08 g, 9.10 mmol), potassium carbonate (2.60 g, 18.8 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0.72 g, 0.62 mmol), degassed 1,2-dimethoxyethane (30 mL) and water (0.5 mL) were combined under an argon atmosphere and the mixture heated at 90° C. overnight. The reaction mixture was then cooled to room temperature, diluted with water (100 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×150 mL). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 3-4 using 2N HCl solution and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×200 mL). The combined organic portions were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 20% methanol/dichloromethane) and the product containing fractions concentrated to give a solid, which was triturated with 2:1 heptane/ethyl acetate to give pure 6-(3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-2-chloronicotinic acid (1.4 g, 67%) as an off-white foam. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.64 (s, 1H), 8.34 (d, 1H), 8.29 (d, 1H), 8.04 (d, 1H), 7.95 (d, 1H), 7.59 (t, 1H), 1.60 (s, 9H); m/z 334 [M+H].

Step 2. 6-(3-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-2-chloronicotinic acid (500 mg, 1.50 mmol) was dissolved in a 2 M solution of ethylamine in tetrahydrofuran (7.0 mL, 14.0 mmol) and the mixture heated using a microwave at 140° C. for 4 h. The solution was then concentrated to dryness and the crude mixture purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 10% methanol/dichloromethane). The solid obtained was triturated with ethyl acetate/heptane (1:4) and filtered to afford the title compound (330 mg, 64% yield) as a yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 8.70 (s, 1H), 8.27 (dd, 2H), 8.06 (d, 1H), 7.85 (br.s, 1H), 7.52 (t, 1H), 7.09 (d, 1H), 3.71 (q, 1H), 1.62 (s, 9H), 1.27 (t, 3H); m/z 343 [M+H].

Intermediate 8

4-(3-(Tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows:

Step 1. Methyl 4-(3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows:

A stirred slurry of methyl 4-chloro-7-azaindole-2-carboxylate (100 mg, 0.48 mmol), tert-butyl 3-(hydroxy(methyl)boryl)benzoate (137 mg, 0.62 mmol), potassium phosphate (309 mg, 1.42 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium (28 mg, 0.02 mmol) in p-dioxane (3 mL)/water (1 mL) were heated at 100° C. for 15 hr. The reaction mixture was cooled, concentrated in vacuo and flash chromatographed (0-100% ethyl acetate:heptanes) to afford methyl 4-(3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate as a white powder (148 mg). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 1.62 (s, 9H) 3.99 (s, 3H) 7.28 (d, J=5.23 Hz, 1H) 7.36 (d, J=2.62 Hz, 1H) 7.59 (t, 1H) 7.90 (d, 1H) 8.09 (d, 1H) 8.35 (t, 1H) 8.64 (d, J=4.70 Hz, 1H), m/z (M+1)=353.2.

Step 2. To a stirred solution of methyl 4-(3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate (145 mg, 0.41 mmol) in methanol (2 mL)/tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) was added 1N aqueous lithium hydroxide (0.82 mL, 0.82 mmol). After 18 hr, the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo, diluted into water, pH adjusted to ˜5 with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid, the yellow solids collected by filtration and dried in vacuo to afford the title compound (122 mg). m/z=339.5 (M+1); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 12.56 (s, 1H) 8.47 (d, J=4.88 Hz, 1H) 8.24 (t, J=1.66 Hz, 1H) 8.01 (tt, J=8.36, 1.29 Hz, 2H) 7.69 (t, J=7.80 Hz, 1H) 7.31 (d, J=4.88 Hz, 1H) 7.15 (d, J=2.15 Hz, 1H) 1.52-1.59 (m, 9H).

Intermediate 9

1-isopropyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. tert-butyl 9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Methyl vinyl ketone (146 mL) was added to a solution of tert-butyl 4-formylpiperidine-1-carboxylate (375 g) in tetrahydrofuran (18 L). The reaction mixture was cooled to −5° C. and a solution of potassium hydroxide in ethanol (3N, 0.243 L) was added dropwise over 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 16 hours. Cyclohexane (10 L) was added and the solution was washed with saturated sodium chloride (3×10 L). The organic layer was concentrated to an oil. This oil was dissolved in 2 L of 80:20 cyclohexane/ethyl acetate and filtered through Celite® to remove insoluble material. The filtrate was purified via flash column chromatography (70:30 hexane/ethyl acetate) to afford the product as an oil. The oil was triturated in hexanes to afford the desired product as a white solid (131 g, 28%).

Step 2. (E)-tert-butyl 10-((dimethylamino)methylene)-9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

tert-Butyl 9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate (101 g) and tris(dimethylaminomethane) (133 mL) were dissolved in toluene (800 mL) and heated to reflux for 17 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated to a minimum stirring volume and ethyl acetate (600 mL) was added. This mixture was heated to reflux and heptane (1.2 L) was added over 20 minutes. The hot solution was cooled to room temperature over 3 hours. The solids were filtered through a course glass frit and washed with heptane (300 mL). The resulting solid was dried in a vacuum oven at 40° C. for 3 hours to afford the desired product as a yellow solid (107 g). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.48 (s, 1H), 6.57 (d, J=9.97 Hz, 1H), 5.99 (d, J=10.16 Hz, 1H), 3.32-3.51 (m, 4H), 3.06 (s, 6H), 2.72 (s, 2H), 1.57-1.66 (m, 2H), 1.41-1.53 (m, 11H).

Step 3. tert-Butyl 1-isopropyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

(E)-tert-Butyl 10-((dimethylamino)methylene)-9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate (107 g) was taken up in toluene (700 mL) and isopropyl hydrazine (44.4 g) was added. The reaction was stirred at reflux for 4 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and ethyl acetate was added (500 mL). The reaction solution was washed with citric acid (2×300 mL, 10% aqueous), and water (400 mL). The organic layer concentrated in vacuo to afford tert-butyl 1-isopropyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate as a yellow solid (109 g). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.25 (s, 1H) 6.42 (dd, J=10.05, 0.49 Hz, 1H) 5.84 (d, J=9.95 Hz, 1H) 4.42-4.52 (m, 1H) 3.36-3.53 (m, 4H) 2.62 (s, 2H) 1.56-1.68 (m, 2H) 1.45-1.55 (m, 17H).

Step 4. tert-butyl 1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

To a solution of tert-butyl 1-isopropyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (109 g) in methanol (1 L) was added N-bromo succinimide (61.4 g). The reaction was stirred for 1 hour. The reaction was quenched with sodium thiosulfate (10 g in 300 mL water) and then distilled to a final volume of 500 mL. The solution was cooled to ambient temperature and 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran (1 L) and water (100 mL) were added. The organic layer was removed and the aqueous layer was extracted with 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran. The organic layers were combined, washed with aqueous sodium hydroxide (1 N, 250 mL), water and saturated, aqueous sodium chloride. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to an orange oil. The oil was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (500 mL) and potassium tert-butoxide (76.8 g) in tetrahydrofuran (500 mL) was added. The solution was heated to 60° C. and stirred for 1 hour. Aqueous hydrochloric acid (1 N, 1 L) was added and the solution was stirred for 30 minutes. The phases were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (700 mL). The organic layers were combined, washed with water (400 mL) and saturated, aqueous sodium chloride (100 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give a residue. The residue was dried in a vacuum oven at 40° C. for 16 hours to afford the title compound as an orange wax (117 g). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.35 (s, 1H), 5.32-5.42 (m, 1H), 3.29-3.51 (m, 4H), 2.73 (s, 2H), 2.51 (s, 2H), 1.47-1.57 (m, 4H), 1.42-1.46 (m, 15H), +ESI MS (M+H)=348.5.

Step 5. 1-isopropyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

tert-Butyl 9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate (250 g), and tris (dimethylaminomethane) (325 mL) were dissolved in toluene (1.9 L) and heated at reflux for 4 hours. The mixture was distilled and concentrated to a minimum stirring volume (110° C.) and then toluene (1.9 L) was added. The reaction was redistilled to a minimum stirring volume and cooled to room temperature. Toluene (1.8 L) and isopropyl hydrazine hydrochloride (135 g) were added and the solution was heated to reflux for 5 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and was then washed with citric acid (10% aqueous, 2×150 mL) and water (200 mL), and then the organic layer was distilled to a minimum stirring volume. Methanol (2 L) was added and distilled to a minimum stirring volume. This was repeated with methanol (2 L). The solution was redissolved in methanol (2.5 L) and N-bromosuccinimide (176 g) was added in one portion. The solution was stirred at 23° C. for 2 hours. Aqueous sodium thiosulfate solution (5 wt %, 0.5 L) was added and the mixture was stirred for 15 minutes. The reaction mixture was concentrated via distillation (45° C., 210 mm Hg) to ˜0.5 L and then 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran (2.5 L) was added. After stirring for 15 minutes the aqueous layer was discarded. The organic layer was concentrated to ˜0.2 L and tetrahydrofuran (0.5 L) was added. To the mixture was added a potassium tert-butoxide solution in tetrahydrofuran (1.9 L, 1 M solution). The solution was heated to 60° C. and stirred for 1 hour. After cooling to room temperature, aqueous hydrochloric acid (1 N, 2.2 L) was added over 20 minutes. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes, and then the layers were allowed to separate. The aqueous layer was removed and back extracted with ethyl acetate (1.75 L). The combined organic layers were washed with water (1 L) and the organic layer concentrated via distillation (4 L solvent removed). Ethyl acetate (1.8 L) was added and the solution was concentrated to a minimum stirring volume. Ethyl acetate (3 L) and methanol (0.8 L) were added and the solution was cooled to 0° C. Acetyl chloride (401 mL) was added dropwise over 20 minutes and the solution was stirred at 0° C. for 4 hours. The precipitate was collected by filtration under nitrogen. The filtrate was washed with ethyl acetate (0.5 L) and dried in a vacuum oven at 40° C. to afford 1-isopropyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one as an off-white solid (241 g). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.43 (s, 1H), 5.32-5.42 (m, 1H), 3.15-3.25 (m, 4H), 2.89 (s, 2H), 2.64 (s, 2H), 1.69-1.90 (m, 4H), 1.37-1.45 (m, 6H); +ESI (M+H)=248.4

Intermediate 10

1-tert-butyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. Benzyl 10-((dimethylamino)methylene)-9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

9-oxo-3-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (15.2 g, 51 mmol) was dissolved in 180 mL toluene and tris(dimethylamino)methane (22.2 g, 27 mmol) was added. The reaction was heated to reflux for 5 hours and then allowed to cool to room temperature overnight. The reaction solution was concentrated in vacuo to provide the title compound (18.0 g, 100%): +APCI MS (M+H) 354.6; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.49 (s, 1H), 7.28-7.40 (m, 5H), 6.59 (d, J=10.16 Hz, 1H), 6.01 (d, J=9.97 Hz, 1H), 5.13 (s, 2H), 3.52-3.66 (m, 2H), 3.39-3.52 (m, 2H), 3.07 (s, 6H), 2.74 (s, 2H), 1.58-1.73 (m, 2H), 1.41-1.58 (m, 2H).

Step 2. Benzyl 1-tert-butyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 10-((dimethylamino)methylene)-9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate (59.2 g, 167 mmol) was dissolved in 835 mL of ethanol. To the reaction solution was added acetic acid (20 mL, 345 mmol) and tert-butylhydrazine hydrochloride (29.1 g, 234 mmol). The reaction was heated to reflux for 1 hour. The reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and then concentrated in vacuo to give an orange oil which was purified by flash chromatography using 20-40% ethyl acetate in heptane as eluent to afford the title compound as a pale yellow solid (50 g, 79%): +ESI MS (M+H) 380.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.26-7.40 (m, 5H) 7.17 (s, 1H) 6.66 (d, J=9.95 Hz, 1H) 5.77 (d, J=10.15 Hz, 1H) 5.12 (s, 2H) 3.38-3.64 (m, 4H) 2.58 (s, 2H) 1.60 (s, 12H) 1.50 (br. s., 1H).

Step 3. Benzyl 6-bromo-1-tert-butyl-7-hydroxy-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 1-tert-butyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (50 g, 132 mmol) was dissolved in 1 L of tetrahydrofuran. To the reaction was added N-bromosuccinimide (24.6 g, 138 mmol) and 250 mL of water. The reaction was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The phases were separated and the organic phase was washed an additional 2 times with water and once with saturated, aqueous sodium chloride. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, concentrated in vacuo, and crystallized from ether to afford the title compound as a cream-colored solid (60.7 g, 97%): +ESI MS (M+H) 476.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.28-7.36 (m, 5H), 7.27 (s, 1H), 5.23 (t, J=4.68 Hz, 1H), 5.12 (s, 2H), 4.24 (d, J=4.49 Hz, 1H), 3.87 (br. s., 2H), 3.12 (br. s., 2H), 2.79 (d, J=16.00 Hz, 2H), 2.59 (d, J=15.80 Hz, 2H), 1.95 (br. s., 1H), 1.66 (s, 11H), 1.58 (br. s., 1H).

Step 4. Benzyl 6-bromo-1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 6-bromo-1-tert-butyl-7-hydroxy-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (57.9 g, 122 mmol) was dissolved in 1 L acetone and then cooled to 0° C. in an ice bath. To the solution was added 122 mL of Jones Reagent (Fillion, E. Tetrahedron Letters 2004, 46, 1091-1094). The ice bath was removed and the reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature where it was stirred for 45 minutes. Saturated, aqueous sodium bicarbonate was added until no further gas evolution was noted and pH reached 7. The resulting mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite® rinsing with ethyl acetate. The filtrate layers were separated and the aqueous layer was back extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were combined, washed twice with water, once with saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was crystallized from ethyl acetate/heptane to afford the title compound (50.4 g, 87%): +ESI MS (M+H) 474.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.32 (d, J=9.38 Hz, 6H), 5.11 (s, 2H), 4.24 (s, 1H), 3.58-3.84 (m, 2H), 3.16-3.41 (m, 2H), 2.67-2.91 (m, 2H), 1.80 (br. s., 1H), 1.61-1.76 (m, 11H), 1.52-1.61 (m, 1H).

Step 5. Benzyl 1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 6-bromo-1-tert-butyl-7-hydroxy-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (50.4 g, 106 mmol) was dissolved in 600 mL of tetrahydrofuran, to this was added saturated, aqueous ammonium chloride (600 mL) and zinc powder (20.8 g, 319 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. The reaction was filtered through Celite®, the phases were separated and the organic phase was washed with water and saturated, aqueous sodium chloride, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a foam. The foam was triturated once in ethyl acetate/heptane and once in ether and filtered to afford the title compound as a white solid (40.4 g, 96%): +ESI MS (M+H) 396.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.24-7.38 (m, 6H), 5.11 (s, 2H), 3.36-3.61 (m, 4H), 2.74 (s, 2H), 2.54 (s, 2H), 1.64 (s, 9H), 1.51 (br. s., 4H).

Step 6. 1-tert-butyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (46.6 g, 118 mmol) was dissolved in 730 mL ethanol and the solution was added to 10% palladium on carbon (9.4 g). To this was added 1-methyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene (90 mL, 769 mmol). The reaction was stirred at reflux for 2 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and filtered through Celite®. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give a gray solid. The solid was dissolved in 150 mL ethyl acetate, to this was added 35 mL 4 M hydrochloric acid in dioxane. A precipitate formed and was collected by filtration to afford the title compound as a white solid (34 g, 97%): +ESI MS (M+H) 262.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.34 (s, 1H) 3.12-3.25 (m, 4H) 2.90 (s, 2H) 2.66 (s, 2H) 1.67-1.85 (m, 4H) 1.62 (s, 9H).

Intermediate 11

1-(Oxetan-3-yl)-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. tert-Butyl 1-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Ethylhydrazinoacetate hydrochloride (0.92 g, 5.95 mmol) was added to a solution of benzyl 10-((dimethylamino)methylene)-9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate (1.25 g, 3.90 mmol), described in the preparation of Intermediate 10, in ethanol (30 mL). Stir the mixture at reflux for 1 hour. An aliquot indicated the reaction was complete by ¹H NMR. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated under high vacuum to a brown oil. The oil was triturated with diethyl ether (50 mL). The precipitate was filtered and the filtrate concentrated and dried under high vacuum to yield the title compound (1.50 g, 100%) as a brown oil. +APCI MS (M+H) 376.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.21-1.26 (m, 3H), 1.43 (s, 9H), 1.45-1.52 (m, 2H), 1.54-1.64 (m, 2H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 3.33-3.49 (m, 4H), 4.15-4.22 (m, 2H), 4.82 (s, 2H), 5.87 (d, J=9.97 Hz, 1H), 6.26 (d, J=9.97 Hz, 1H), 7.24 (s, 1H).

Step 2. Diethyl 2-(1′-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1(4H)-yl)malonate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

tert-Butyl 1-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (1.45 g 3.86 mmol) in toluene (5 mL) was added to a suspension of sodium hydride (0.148 g, 60% dispersion in mineral oil) in diethyl carbonate (30 mL), dropwise at 80° C. over 30 minutes. The reaction was stirred at reflux for 1.5 hours. ¹H NMR indicated that starting material was consumed and that the desired product had formed. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. Methanol (1 mL) was added and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 5 minutes. Water (5 mL) was added. The solution was acidified to pH˜3 with 2 N aqueous, hydrochloric acid (3 mL) then was extracted with dichloromethane (3×15 mL). The combined organics were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, concentrated, and dried under high vacuum to yield a brown gum (1.59 g, 92%). The crude material was triturated with 1:1 diethyl ether:heptanes (50 mL). The precipitate was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and dried under high vacuum to yield the title compound (1.25 g, 72%). +APCI MS (M+H) 348.1; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.13-1.32 (m, 6H), 1.40-1.46 (m, 9H), 1.46-1.54 (m, 2H), 1.59 (d, J=13.68 Hz, 3H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 3.31-3.51 (m, 4H), 4.27 (q, J=7.23 Hz, 4H), 5.85 (d, J=9.97 Hz, 1H), 6.34 (d, J=9.97 Hz, 1H), 7.24 (s, 1H).

Step 3. tert-Butyl 1-(1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Tetrahydrofuran (40 mL) was added to lithium aluminum hydride (900 mg) in a 3-neck, 125 mL round bottom flask equipped with a nitrogen inlet and thermometer. The solution was cooled to −2° C. Diethyl 2-(1′-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)spiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1(4H)-yl)malonate (1 g) in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL) was added dropwise over 5 minutes. The temperature was never greater than −0.2° C. during the addition. The reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 3 hours then the reaction was then quenched through the sequential addition of water (1.0 mL), 15% aqueous sodium hydroxide (1.0 mL), and water (3 mL). The internal temperature was never greater than 3.2° C. during the addition. The reaction was then allowed to warm to room temperature over 15 minutes. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and washed with diethyl ether (3×20 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine (5 mL) dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, concentrated, and dried under high vacuum to yield a pale yellow glass (548 mg, 67%). This material was chromatographed on 25 g of silica eluting with 2% to 8% methanol in dichloromethane with 0.1% ammonium hydroxide over 30 minutes to yield the title compound (133 mg, 16%). +APCI MS (M+H) 364.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) ppm 1.45 (s, 9H), 1.51 (br. s., 2H), 1.60 (br. s., 4H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 3.32-3.53 (m, 4H), 4.05 (br. s., 4H), 4.26 (t, J=4.89 Hz, 1H), 5.89 (s, 1H), 6.40 (d, J=9.77 Hz, 1H), 7.23-7.25 (m, 1H).

Step 4. tert-Butyl 1-(oxetan-3-yl)-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

2.5 M n-butyl lithium in hexanes (0.33 ml 165 uL) was added to a solution of tert-Butyl 1-(1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (150 mg, 0.41 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (8 mL) at −6.2° C. The temperature was never greater than −3.7° C. during the addition. The solution was stirred at −8° C. for 30 minutes. A solution of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (79 mg) in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) was added to the reaction mixture at −5° C. The temperature was never greater than −2° C. during the addition. The reaction was stirred at −5° C. for 1 hour then the reaction mixture was cooled to −6° C. and 2.5 M n-butyl lithium in hexanes (0.33 mL, 165 uL) was added over 2 minutes. The temperature was never greater than −3.5° C. during the addition. The cooling bath was removed and the reaction was stirred at an internal temperature of 60° C. for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and ethyl acetate (20 mL) was added. The reaction solution was washed with water (35 mL) and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine (5 mL) dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, concentrated, and dried under high vacuum to yield a yellow solid. The solid was purified by chromatography on 8 g silica eluting with 25% to 75% ethyl acetate in heptanes over 36 minutes to yield the title compound (58 mg, 40%). +ESI MS (M+H); ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.45 (s, 9H), 1.49 (d, J=3.71 Hz, 1H), 1.55 (s, 4H), 1.59 (br. s., 1H), 2.61 (s, 2H), 3.32-3.50 (m, 4H), 5.00 (m, J=7.22, 7.22 Hz, 2H), 5.13 (t, J=6.44 Hz, 2H), 5.36-5.46 (m, 1H), 5.88 (d, J=9.95 Hz, 1H), 6.43 (d, J=9.95 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (s, 1H).

Step 5. tert-Butyl 6-bromo-7-methoxy-1-(oxetan-3-yl)-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

N-Bromosuccinimide (30 mg, 0.17 mmol) was added to tert-butyl 1-(oxetan-3-yl)-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (56 mg, 0.17 mmol) in methanol (1.0 mL) at room temperature. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours then N-bromosuccinimide (4.5 mg) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under a stream of nitrogen to a residue. Ethyl acetate (15 mL) was added and the reaction solution was washed with 10% citric acid (3 mL), 1N sodium hydroxide (3 mL), and brine (3 mL). The organic layer was concentrated and dried under high vacuum to yield the title compound (74 mg, 100%) as a colorless solid. +APCI MS (M+H) 458.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.44 (s, 9H), 1.69 (br. s., 4H), 2.51 (d, J=15.83 Hz, 1H), 2.67 (d, J=15.83 Hz, 1H), 3.06-3.31 (m, 3H), 3.54 (s, 3H), 3.62-3.72 (m, 1H), 4.39 (s, 1H), 4.66 (s, 1H), 4.87-4.93 (m, 1H), 4.97 (t, J=6.84 Hz, 1H), 4.99-5.04 (m, 1H), 5.30 (s, 1H), 5.34-5.40 (m, 1H), 7.43 (s, 1H).

Step 6. tert-Butyl 1-(oxetan-3-yl)-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

1 M potassium tert-butoxide in tetrahydrofuran (0.320 mL) was added to a solution of tert-butyl 6-bromo-7-methoxy-1-(oxetan-3-yl)-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate 72 mg, 0.16 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (1.0 mL) at room temperature. The colorless solution turned yellow upon addition. The solution was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. 1 N aqueous, hydrogen chloride (0.475 mL, 3 eq.) was added and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The tetrahydrofuran was concentrated under a stream of nitrogen. The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×5 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine (3 mL) then the organic layer was concentrated and dried under high vacuum to give the title compound as a pale yellow solid (54 mg, 96%). −APCI MS (M−H) 360.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 1.38-1.45 (m, 9H), 1.46-1.56 (m, 4H), 2.57 (s, 2H), 2.82 (s, 2H), 3.33-3.53 (m, 4H), 4.94-5.06 (m, 4H), 6.08-6.21 (m, 1H), 7.53 (s, 1H).

Step 7. 1-(oxetan-3-yl)-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Trifluoroacetic acid (0.2 mL) was added to a solution of tert-butyl 1-(oxetan-3-yl)-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (50 mg, 0.14 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) at 0° C. The cooling bath was removed and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated to a residue under a stream of nitrogen and dried under high vacuum for 20 minutes. The residue was triturated with diethyl ether (5 mL). The solvent was decanted and the resulting precipitate was dried under high vacuum to yield the title compound (52 mg, 100) as a pale yellow solid. +APCI MS (M+H) 262.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 1.65-1.86 (m, 4H), 2.63 (s, 2H), 2.89 (s, 2H), 3.14-3.27 (m, 4H), 5.02 (s, 4H), 6.07-6.21 (m, 1H), 7.53-7.60 (m, 1H).

Intermediate 12

1-Isopropyl-3-methyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. Benzyl 1-isopropyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows

Benzyl 10-((dimethylamino)methylene)-9-oxo-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-7-ene-3-carboxylate (6.38 g, 18 mmol), prepared as described in the preparation of Intermediate 10, was dissolved in 90 mL of ethanol. To the reaction solution was added acetic acid (2.16 g, 36 mmol) and 1-isopropylhydrazine hydrochloride (2.79 g, 25 mmol). The reaction was heated to reflux for 2 hours then the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo to give an orange oil which was purified by flash chromatography using 12-100% ethyl acetate in heptane as eluent to afford the title compound as a yellow gum (6.58 g, 69%): +ESI MS (M+H) 366.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.28-7.39 (m, 5H), 7.25 (s, 1H), 6.42 (d, J=9.95 Hz, 1H), 5.84 (d, J=9.95 Hz, 1H), 5.14 (s, 2H), 4.41-4.54 (m, 1H), 3.42-3.65 (m, 4H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 1.58-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.50-1.58 (m, 2H), 1.49 (d, J=6.83 Hz, 6H).

Step 2. Benzyl 3,6-dibromo-1-isopropyl-7-methoxy-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 1-isopropyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (679 mg, 1.86 mmol) was dissolved in 15 mL methanol and treated with N-bromosuccinimide (728 mg, 4.09 mmol) and the reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 18 hours. The methanol was removed under reduced pressure. The resultant tan foam was taken up in 50 mL ethyl acetate and washed with 0.5 M sodium hydroxide (2×50 mL) and 20 mL saturated aqueous sodium thiosulfate. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The resultant oil was flash chromatographed (25 g silica, 10-80% ethyl acetate/heptane gradient) to yield 784 mg (76%) of the title compound as a white foam: +APCI-MS (M+H)=554.1, 556.2, 558.2: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.26-7.42 (m, 5H), 5.12 (s, 2H), 4.67 (d, J=1.76 Hz, 1H), 4.36 (s, 1H), 4.27 (m, 1H), 3.79 (d, J=11.90 Hz, 1H), 3.59-3.73 (m, 1H), 3.53 (s, 3H), 3.24-3.40 (m, 1H), 3.19 (ddd, J=13.61, 10.00, 3.12 Hz, 1H), 2.56 (d, J=16.19 Hz, 1H), 2.34 (d, J=16.19 Hz, 1H), 1.56-1.85 (m, 4H), 1.38-1.55 (m, 6H).

Step 3. Benzyl 3-bromo-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 3,6-dibromo-1-isopropyl-7-methoxy-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (784 mg, 1.4 mmol) was dissolved in 15 mL tetrahydrofuran. Potassium t-butoxide (2.82 mL, 2 eq, 1 M tetrahydrofuran) was added and the reaction was stirred for 18 hours at ambient temperature. To the reaction was added 25 mL 2 N hydrochloric acid. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at ambient temperature. The mixture was diluted with 25 mL water and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 mL). The organic extracts were combined and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The resultant oil was flash chromatographed (50 g silica, 8-66% ethyl acetate/heptane gradient) to yield 612 mg of the title compound as a white foam: +ESI MS (M+H)=462.5 ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.25-7.38 (m, 5H), 5.24-5.42 (m, 1H), 5.12 (s, 2H), 3.49-3.66 (m, 2H), 3.46 (dd, J=7.41, 4.88 Hz, 2H), 2.63 (s, 2H), 2.52 (s, 2H), 1.48-1.65 (m, 4H), 1.44 (d, J=6.63 Hz, 6H).

Step 4. tert-Butyl 3-bromo-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 3-bromo-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (612 mg, 1.33 mmol) was dissolved in 10 mL 33% hydrobromic acid/acetic acid and the mixture was stirred for 60 minutes at ambient temperature. The solvent was evaporated and the red-orange residue taken up in 50 mL water and made basic with saturated aqueous sodium carbonate and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 mL). The organic phase was concentrated to 20 mL and treated with 20 mL saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (348 mg). The biphasic mixture stirred for one hour at ambient temperature. The layers were separated and the organic phase dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant oil was flash chromatographed (10-70% ethyl acetate/heptane, 10 g silica) to yield 364 mg of the title compound. +ESI MS (M+H)=413.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 5.24-5.43 (m, 1H), 3.41-3.56 (m, 2H), 3.28-3.41 (m, 2H), 2.63 (s, 2H), 2.51 (s, 2H), 1.47-1.56 (m, 4H), 1.40-1.49 (m, 15H).

Step 5. tert-Butyl 1-isopropyl-3-methyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

tert-Butyl 3-bromo-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (440 mg, 1.03 mmol), palladium tetrakis triphenylphosphine (119 mg, 0.103 mmol), potassium carbonate (146 mg, 1.03 mmol), and water (94 mg, 5.16 mmol) were combined in dimethylformamide (2 mL) and degassed with nitrogen for 2 minutes. The reaction vial was sealed and heated in a microwave reactor for 30 minutes at 100° C. The vial was removed from the microwave reactor and then heated to 100° C. in a conventional heating block for 4 days. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo and then partitioned between water (5 mL) and ethyl acetate (5 mL). The phases were separated and the organic layer was concentrated and then chromatographed on a 40 g column eluting with 20-40% ethyl acetate in heptane gradient to give 268 mg (72%) of the title compound. +ESI MS (M+H)=362.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 5.20-5.53 (m, 1H), 3.32-3.54 (m, 4H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 2.50 (s, 2H), 2.23 (s, 3H), 1.53 (t, J=5.76 Hz, 4H), 1.46 (s, 9H), 1.44 (d, J=6.64 Hz, 6H).

Step 6. 1-Isopropyl-3-methyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

tert-Butyl 1-isopropyl-3-methyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (375 mg, 1.04 mmol) was dissolved in 3 mL diethyl ether and treated with 4 M hydrogen chloride in dioxane (1 mL). The solution was stirred for one hour and then concentrated in vacuo to provide 300 mg of the title compound as a white foam: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 5.10-5.35 (m, 1H), 4.34 (br. s., 4H), 2.70 (s, 2H), 2.56 (s, 2H), 2.17 (s, 3H), 1.66 (br. s., 4H), 1.34 (d, J=6.64 Hz, 6H).

Intermediate 13

1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-3-carbonitrile, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. tert-Butyl 3-cyano-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

In a schlenk tube flushed with nitrogen was added tert-butyl 3-bromo-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (250 mg, 0.59 mmol), prepared as described in the preparation of Intermediate 12, tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)-chloroform adduct (23.8 mg, 0.02 mmol), zinc dust (9.6 mg, 0.15 mmol), zinc cyanide (75.7 mg, 0.65 mmol) and 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (26.1 mg, 0.05 mmol). Anhydrous dimethylacetamide (3.5 mL) was added and the flask was flushed with nitrogen, then capped with a Teflon® screw top. The reaction was stirred at 120° C. for 16 hours. The reaction was cooled and then filtered through a pad of Celite® washing with ethyl acetate. The filtrate was washed with water and the aqueous phase was back extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases were washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography using 5-30% ethyl acetate in heptane gradient to give 204 mg of the title compound as a solid (93%): +ESI MS (M-Boc+H) 273.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 5.44 (m, 1H), 3.44 (m, 4H), 2.89 (s, 2H), 2.64 (s, 2H), 1.53 (m, 4H), 1.46-1.43 (m, 15H).

Step 2. 1-Isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-3-carbonitrile

tert-Butyl 3-cyano-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (70 mg, 0.19 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (3 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (0.2 mL) and stirred at ambient temperature for 90 minutes. The solvent was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was co-distilled with toluene followed by ethyl acetate to give 149 mg (100%) of the title compound as a yellow solid: +ESI MS (M+H) 273.5.

Intermediate 14

1-isopropyl-6-methyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. Benzyl 6-bromo-7-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 1-isopropyl-1,4-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (4.20 g, 11 mmol), prepared as described in the preparation of Intermediate 12, was dissolved in 130 mL of tetrahydrofuran. To the reaction was added N-bromosuccinimide (2.49 g, 14 mmol) and 30 mL of water. The reaction was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction was partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated, aqueous sodium chloride. The organic phase was separated then washed an additional time with saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound as an off-white foam (5.31 g, 100%): +ESI MS (M+H) 463.8.

Step 2. Benzyl 6-bromo-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 6-bromo-7-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (5.30 g, 11 mmol) was dissolved in 53 mL acetone and then cooled to 0° C. in an ice bath. To the solution was added 83 mL of Jones Reagent (Fillion, E. Tetrahedron Letters 2004, 46, 1091-1094). The ice bath was removed and the reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature where it was stirred for 45 minutes. The reaction was cooled to 0° C. in an ice bath and then saturated, aqueous sodium bicarbonate was added until no further gas evolution was noted. The resulting mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite® rinsing with ethyl acetate. The filtrate layers were separated and the aqueous layer was back extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were combined, washed twice with water, once with saturated, aqueous sodium chloride, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound (5.27 g, 100%): +ESI MS (M+H) 460.4.

Step 3. Benzyl 1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 6-bromo-1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (5.63 g, 12 mmol) was dissolved in 55 mL of acetic acid, to this was added zinc powder (2.40 g, 37 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 35 minutes at room temperature. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo and then partitioned between saturated, aqueous sodium bicarbonate and ethyl acetate. The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were combined, washed with water, saturated, aqueous sodium chloride, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give an oil. The oil was purified by flash chromatography using 12-100% ethyl acetate in heptane as eluent to afford the title compound as an oil (2.25 g, 48%): +ESI MS (M+H) 382.4; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.28-7.40 (m, 6H), 5.32-5.45 (m, 1H), 5.13 (s, 2H), 3.41-3.61 (m, 4H), 2.76 (s, 2H), 2.54 (s, 2H), 1.50-1.62 (m, 4H), 1.47 (d, J=6.63 Hz, 6H).

Step 4. Benzyl 1-isopropyl-6-methyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Benzyl 1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (397 mg, 1.04 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (8 mL) was cooled to −70° C. To this was added lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.56 mL, 1.56 mmol) as a 1.0 M solution in tetrahydrofuran over a ten minute period. The resulting yellow solution was stirred for thirty minutes at −70° C. 1,3-Dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidone (1.6 mL) was added to the reaction, stirring was continued at −70° C. for ten minutes. To the reaction was added iodomethane (746 mg, 5.2 mmol). The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature where it was stirred for 18 hours. To the reaction was added saturated, aqueous sodium bicarbonate (2 mL), the mixture was then partitioned between water (20 mL) and ethyl acetate (150 mL). The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (150 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated to give a clear oil. The oil was purified by silica gel chromatography using 10-40% ethyl acetate in heptane as eluent to afford the title compound as a white solid (351 mg, 85%): +ESI MS (M+H) 396.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm 7.44 (s, 1H), 7.35 (s, 5H), 5.17-5.34 (m, 1H), 5.06 (s, 2H), 3.52-3.72 (m, 4H), 2.79 (s, 2H), 2.42-2.48 (m, 1H), 1.38-1.49 (m, 4H), 1.35 (t, J=6.74 Hz, 6H), 1.04 (d, J=7.04 Hz, 3H).

Step 5. 1-Isopropyl-6-methyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

The title compound was prepared from benzyl 1-isopropyl-6-methyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate in an analogous fashion to Intermediate 10, Step 6.

Intermediate 15

1-isopropyl-6,6-dimethyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. Benzyl 1-isopropyl-6,6-dimethyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro [indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

A solution of benzyl 1-isopropyl-6-methyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (84 mg, 0.21 mmol), described in the preparation of Intermediate 14, in 1 mL tetrahydrofuran was cooled to −70° C. and then treated with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (0.318 mL, 0.318 mmol) as a 1.0 M solution in tetrahydrofuran over ten minutes. Then 1,3-Dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidone (0.2 mL) was added to the reaction. Stirring continued for ten minutes at −70° C., then iodomethane (152 mg, 1.06 mmol) was added to the reaction. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature where it was held for four hours. To the reaction was added saturated, aqueous ammonium chloride (1 mL), the mixture was then partitioned between water (2 mL) and ethyl acetate (10 mL). The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (5 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated to give a clear, yellow oil. The oil was purified by silica gel chromatography using 10-40% ethyl acetate in heptane as eluent to afford the title compound as a clear oil (58 mg, 67%): +ESI MS (M+H) 410.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.28-7.44 (m, 5H), 7.27 (s, 1H), 5.40 (m, 1H), 5.13 (s, 2H), 3.85-4.24 (m, 2H), 2.86-3.11 (m, 2H), 1.58-1.79 (m, 2H), 1.56 (s, 2H), 1.46 (d, J=6.64 Hz, 6H), 1.19-1.40 (m, 2H), 1.15 (s, 6H).

Step 2. 1-Isopropyl-6,6-dimethyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

The title compound was prepared from benzyl 1-isopropyl-6,6-dimethyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro [indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate in an analogous fashion to Intermediate 10, Step 6.

Intermediate 16

3-bromo-1-tert-butyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. tert-Butyl 1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

The hydrochloride salt of Intermediate 10 (1040 mg, 3.492 mmol), di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (800 mg, 3.67 mmol) and triethylamine (730 mg, 7.2 mmol) were combined in dichloromethane (30 mL). The reaction solution was stirred at ambient temperature for 16 hours. To the reaction was added dichloromethane (20 mL). The reaction solution was washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid (5 mL), water (5 mL), and saturated, aqueous sodium chloride (5 mL). The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated to give tert-butyl 1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (1262 mg, 100%): −APCI MS (M−H) 360.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.30 (s, 1H), 3.29-3.56 (m, 4H), 2.77 (s, 2H), 2.56 (s, 2H), 1.67 (s, 9H), 1.48-1.56 (m, 4H), 1.46 (s, 9H).

Step 2. tert-Butyl 3-bromo-1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

tert-Butyl 1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (1090 mg, 3.015 mmol) and sodium acetate (1050 mg, 12.80 mmol) were combined in ethanol (40 mL) and water (10 mL). To this solution was added bromine (1870 mg, 11.7 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours. To the reaction was added ethanol (40 mL). The reaction was stirred for 16 more hours. The reaction solution was poured in water (20 mL) and extracted twice with ethyl acetate (75 mL each). The combined organic extracts were washed twice with aqueous, saturated sodium thiosulfate (25 mL each) and saturated, aqueous sodium chloride (25 mL). The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated to a final volume of 20 mL to give a precipitate. The mixture was filtered and the solids collected to give the title compound as a solid (679 mg, 51%): +APCI MS (M+H-Boc) 342.1; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 3.28-3.60 (m, 4H), 2.66 (s, 2H), 2.56 (s, 2H), 1.65 (s, 9H), 1.48-1.55 (m, 4H), 1.46 (s, 9H).

Step 3. 3-Bromo-1-tert-butyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

tert-Butyl 3-bromo-1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-carboxylate (670 mg, 1.52 mmol) and 4 M hydrogen chloride in dioxane (8 mL) were combined and stirred for 2.5 hours. To the reaction was added diethyl ether (20 mL). A precipitate formed that was filtered and the solids collected to give the title compound (573 mg, 97%): +APCI MS (M+H) 342.1; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 3.24 (t, J=5.96 Hz, 4H), 2.80 (s, 2H), 2.74 (s, 2H), 1.71-1.92 (m, 4H), 1.65 (s, 9H).

Intermediate 17

1′-Isopropyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. 1-(4-Hydroxy-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)ethanone, shown below, was prepared as follows:

To a stirred solution of (4-methoxybenzyl)hydrazine hydrochloride (13.5 g, 71.5 mmol) in water (400 mL) was added a solution of pyruvaldehyde (5.2 g, 71.5 mmol) in water (200 mL) over a 10-min period. After an additional 50 min, the reaction mixture was extracted with dichloromethane (3×300 mL), the combined extracts dried over sodium sulfate, concentrated in vacuo and the residue was used in the next transformation without further purification.

A stirred solution of the product from the above reaction (12.3 g, 59.8 mmol) and glyoxal (43 g, 299 mmol) in methanol (34 mL)/water (300 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with ethyl acetate, the organic phase dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. Purification of the residue was performed on an Combiflash® unit (300 g column, gradient 10-35% ethyl acetate:heptanes) afforded the title compound (6.04 g). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 8.05 (s, 1H) 7.18 (m, J=8.79 Hz, 2H), 6.93 (s, 1H), 6.87 (m, J=8.60 Hz, 2H), 5.15 (s, 2H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 2.55 (s, 3H); m/z (M+1)=247.0.

Step 2. 1-Benzyl-2′-(4-methoxybenzyl)-2′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Suspended 1-(4-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)ethanone (350 mg, 1.42 mmol) in 10 mL methanol and added N-benzyl-4-piperidone (0.25 mL, 1.42 mmol) and pyrrolidine (0.036 mL, 0.3 eq). The mixture was then heated at reflux for 18 h. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature and methanol was removed under reduced pressure. The resultant orange oil was partitioned between 50 mL ethyl acetate and 50 mL water. The aqueous phase was extracted with an additional 50 mL ethyl acetate. The organic layers were combined and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The resultant oil was flash chromatographed (50-100% ethyl acetate/heptane gradient, 25 g silica) to yield 428 mg (72%) of 1-benzyl-2′-(4-methoxybenzyl)-2′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one as a pale yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.25-7.37 (m, 6H), 6.95 (s, 1H), 6.81-6.92 (m, 2H), 5.20 (s, 2H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.49 (s, 2H), 2.63 (s, 2H), 2.57 (d, J=11.3 Hz, 2H), 2.25-2.44 (m, 2H), 2.02 (d, J=12.5 Hz, 2H), 1.62-1.77 (m, 2H); m/z (M+1)=418.5.

Step 3. 1-Benzyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Dissolved 1-benzyl-2′-(4-methoxybenzyl)-2′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one (428 mg, 1.02 mmol) in 20 mL 1,2-dichloroethane and treated with 10 mL trifluoroacetic acid. The resultant mixture was heated for 18 h at 90° C. The reaction was cooled to ambient temperature and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was taken up in 50 mL saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate and extracted with 2×50 mL ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were combined and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant oil was flash chromatographed (25 g silica, step gradient 5 column volumes 50% ethyl acetate/heptane, 10 CV 100% ethyl acetate) to yield 278 mg (91%) of 1-benzyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one as a pale yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.27 (m, 6H), 3.55 (s, 2H), 2.64 (m, 4H), 2.45 (td, J=11.7, 2.5 Hz, 2H), 2.06 (d, J=12.1 Hz, 2H), 1.74 (m, 2H); m/z (M+1)=298.5.

Step 4. 1-Benzyl-1′-isopropyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

1-Benzyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one (204 mg, 0.67 mmol) was dissolved in 10 mL tetrahydrofuran. 2-propanol (0.11 mL, 1.37 mmol) and polymer supported triphenylphosphine (0.5 g, 3 mmol/g loading) were added followed by addition of DBAD (322 mg, 1.37 mmol) and stirred at ambient temperature for 5 days. Filtered off polymer supported triphenyl phosphine and washed filtercake with 100 mL ethyl acetate. The filtrate was concentrated and the resultant yellow oil was treated with 10 mL 4N HCl/dioxane. The mixture was stirred 1 h at ambient temperature. The volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The resultant sludge was partitioned between 50 mL sat aq. sodium bicarbonate and 50 mL ethyl acetate. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant oil was flash chromatographed (30-100% ethyl acetate/heptane gradient, 10 g silica) to yield 90 mg (35%) of 1-benzyl-1′-isopropyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one as a pale yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.30 (m, 3H), 7.24 (m, 2H), 7.18 (s, 1H), 5.14 (spt, 1H), 3.52 (s, 2H), 2.60 (m, 4H), 2.41 (td, J=11.6, 2.5 Hz, 2H), 2.06 (d, J=12.5 Hz, 2H), 1.71 (m, 2H), 1.44 (m, 6H): m/z (M+1)=340.5.

Step 5. 1′-Isopropyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one, shown below, was prepared as follows.

1-Benzyl-1′-isopropyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one (81 mg, 0.22 mmol) was dissolved in 10 mL 1,2-dichloroethane. Added 1-chloroethyl chloroformate (60 mL, 0.54 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred 1 h at reflux then cooled to room temperature. The volatiles were removed under reduced pressure and the residue taken up in 10 mL methanol and heated at reflux for 1 h. The mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and the volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in 50 mL saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate and extracted 2×30 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to yield 46 mg (86%) of 1′-isopropyl-1′H-spiro[piperidine-4,5′-pyrano[3,2-c]pyrazol]-7′(6′H)-one as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.20 (s, 1H), 5.13 (spt, 1H), 2.93 (m, 2H), 2.80 (dt, J=12.8, 4.0 Hz, 2H), 2.64 (s, 2H), 2.02 (m, 2H), 1.63 (m, 2H), 1.40 (m, 6H); m/z (M+1)=250.2

Example 1

4-((4-(1-Tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)phenoxy)methyl)benzoic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. Methyl 4-((4-(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)phenoxy)methyl)benzoate, shown below was prepared as follows.

A solution of 4-(4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzyloxy)benzoic acid (25 mg, 0.087 mmol), 1-tert-butyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one (26 mg, 0.087 mmol), diisopropylethylamine (53 μL, 0.30 mmol), 1,2,3-benzotriazole-1-ol, monohydrate (14 mg, 0.087 mmol), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (1.1 mg, 0.01 mmol) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (19 mg, 0.96 mmol) in dichloromethane (0.2 mL) was heated at 30° C. for 18 hr. The reaction mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate/aqueous 0.3N hydrochloric acid, the organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate, concentrated in vacuo and purified by preparative HPLC to afford methyl 4-((4-(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-benzoate. HPLC column: Waters Atlantis C18 4.6×50 mm, 5 um, solvent: acetonitrile:water (0.05% TFA); flow rate 2 mL/min; gradient (% organic) start=5%, end=95%, gradient time=4 min, retention time=3.68 min; m/z=530 (M+1).

Step 2. To a stirred solution of methyl 4-((4-(1-tert-butyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)phenoxy)methyl)benzoate (39 mg, 0.07 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (0.75 mL) was added aqueous lithium hydroxide (0.22 mL, 0.22 mmol). After 18 hr, 0.3 mL of 1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid, and 0.2 mL of saturated aqueous sodium chloride were added. The resulting mixture was extracted with 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (3×4 mL), the combined organic layers dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford a gum (46 mg). Purification by preparative HPLC afforded the title compound (26 mg). HPLC column: Waters Atlantis C18 4.6×50 mm, 5 um, solvent: acetonitrile:water (0.05% TFA); flow rate 2 mL/min; gradient (% organic) start=5%, end=95%, gradient time=4 min, retention time=3.19 min; m/z=516 (M+1).

Example 2

3-(4-(1-Isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

Step 1. Tert-butyl 3-(4-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)benzoate, shown below, was prepared as follows.

A solution of 2-(4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)-6-methoxyisonicotinic acid (500 mg, 1.52 mmol) and 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole (271 mg, 1.67 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (30 mL) was stirred at reflux for 1 hr. After cooling to room temperature 1-isopropyl-4,6-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidin]-7(1H)-one (539 mg, 1.68 mmol) and triethylamine (0.32 mL, 2.28 mmol) were added sequentially and the resulting slurry was heated at reflux temperature for 1 hr. After cooling, the reaction mixture was diluted into ethyl acetate, washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid, saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried over sodium sulfate to afford tert-butyl 3-(4-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)benzoate (850 mg) as a white foam. This material was taken onto the next step without further purification. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 8.60 (t, J=1.66 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (dt, J=8.05, 1.44 Hz, 1H), 8.01 (dt, J=7.80, 1.37 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (t, J=7.80 Hz, 1H), 7.36 (s, 1H), 7.33 (d, J=0.98 Hz, 1H), 6.64 (d, 1H), 5.35 (spt, J=6.44 Hz, 1H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 3.71-3.84 (m, 2H), 3.36-3.42 (m, 2H), 2.79 (d, J=2.34 Hz, 2H), 2.58 (s, 2H), 1.66-1.72 (m, 2H), 1.61 (s, 9H), 1.56 (s, 2H), 1.40-1.48 (m, 6H); m/z (M+1)=559.2.

Step 2. A solution of tert-butyl 3-(4-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)benzoate (850 mg, 1.52 mmol) in dichloromethane (40 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (13 mL) was stirred for 18 hr. The solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (40 g silica gel column, eluting with a gradient of 20-100% ethyl acetate:heptanes (0.5% acetic acid) to afford the title compound as a white solid (568 mg). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.72 (t, J=1.66 Hz, 1H), 8.31 (dt, J=8.15, 1.39 Hz, 1H), 8.06 (dt, J=7.80, 1.27 Hz, 1H), 7.57 (t, J=7.80 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (d, J=0.98 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (s, 1H), 6.74 (d, 1H), 5.36 (spt, J=6.76 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (s, 3H), 3.82-3.91 (m, 1H), 3.65-3.74 (m, 1H), 3.44 (t, J=5.76 Hz, 2H), 3.24 (s, 0H), 2.87 (d, J=1.37 Hz, 2H), 2.63 (d, J=2.93 Hz, 2H), 1.63-1.71 (m, 2H), 1.52-1.60 (m, 2H), 1.41 (d, J=6.24 Hz, 3H), 1.38 (d, J=6.24 Hz, 3H); m/z (M+1)=503.2

Example 3

3-(4-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid, shown below, was prepared as follows.

A mixture of 3-(4-(1-isopropyl-7-oxo-1,4,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-6-methoxypyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid (30 mg, 0.06 mmol), potassium iodide (30 mg, 0.18 mmol) in acetic acid (1 mL) was stirred at 120° C. for 7 hr. The reaction mixture was filtered, concentrated in vacuo and purified by preparative HPLC to afford the title compound (12 mg). HPLC column: Waters Atlantis C18 4.6×50 mm, 5 um, solvent: acetonitrile:water (0.05% TFA); flow rate 2 mL/min; gradient (% organic) start=5%, end=95%, gradient time=4 min, retention time=2.32 min; m/z=489.1451 (M+1).

The compounds listed in Table 1 below were prepared using procedures analogous to those described above for the synthesis of the compounds of Examples 1-3 using the appropriate starting materials which are available commercially, prepared using preparations well-known to those skilled in the art, or prepared in a manner analogous to routes described above for other intermediates. The compounds listed below were isolated initially as the free base and may be converted to a pharmaceutically acceptable salt for testing.

TABLE 1

Ex. R¹ —C(O)—A¹—L—A² Analytical Data 4 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 516.3; ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 400 MHz): 8.70 (s, 1H), 8.27 (d, 1H), 8.03 (d, 1H), 7.46 (t, 1H), 7.45 (d, 1H), 7.31 (s, 1H), 7.16 (d, 1H), 3.40-3.75 (br.s, 4H), 3.05 (s, 3H), 2.86 (s, 2H), 2.60 (s, 2H), 1.61 (s, 13H). 5 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 558.3; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 8.36 (s, 1H), 8.27 (d, 1H), 7.49 (t, 1H), 7.37 (s, 2H), 7.05 (d, 1H), 3.56 (h, 1H), 3.61 (m, 4H), 3.07 (s, 3H), 2.58 (s, 2H), 1.48 (m, 4H), 1.44 (d, 6H) 6 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 486.24; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 8.30 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, 1H), 7.79 (d, 1H), 7.65 (d, 2H), 7.55 (t, 1H), 7.50 (d, 2H), 7.31 (s, 1H), 3.62 (br, 1H), 3.48 (br, 2H), 2.82 (s, 2H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 1.80-1.48 (m, 13H), 0.86 (br, 1H). 7 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 472.26; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 8.31 (s, 1H), 8.09 (d, 1H), 7.79 (d, 1H), 7.65 (d, 2H), 7.53 (t, 1H), 7.50 (d, 2H), 7.38 (s, 1H), 5.37-5.35 (m, 1H), 3.82 (br, 1H), 3.47 (br, 2H), 2.81 (s, 2H), 2.60 (s, 2H), 1.70-1.55 (m, 5H), 1.45 (d, 6H). 8 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 502.27; ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 400 MHz) δ ppm 8.15 (d, 2H), 8.07 (d, 2H), 7.47 (d, 1H), 7.40 (s, 1H), 7.19 (d, 1H), 5.35 (h, 1H), 3.50 (br. s, 4H), 3.05 (s, 3H), 2.86 (s, 2H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 1.60 (br. s, 4H), 1.40 (d, 6H). 9 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 503.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.39-1.48 (m, 6 H), 1.53 (bs, 2H), 1.70 (br. s., 2 H), 2.59 (s, 2 H), 2.80 (s, 2 H), 3.40 (br. s., 2 H), 3.71-3.88 (m, 2H), 4.06 (s, 3 H) 5.31-5.42 (m, 1 H) 6.68 (s, 1 H), 7.38 (s, 2 H), 8.15 (m, 4 H). 10 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 517.6; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.50-1.57 (m, 2H), 1.66 (s, 9 H), 1.67-1.74 (m, 2H), 2.64 (s, 2 H) 2.83 (s, 2 H), 3.39- 3.38 (m, 2H), 3.72-3.91 (m, 4H), 4.07 (s, 3 H) 6.71 (d, J = 0.98 Hz, 1 H) 7.32 (s, 1 H) 7.39 (d, J = 0.98 Hz, 1 H) 8.05-8.26 (m, 4 H) 11 t-butyl

MS (M + H) 517.6; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.49-1.57 (m, 2H), 1.66 (s, 9 H), 1.68-1.75 (m, 2H), 2.64 (s, 2 H), 2.84 (s, 2 H), 3.43 (bs, 2H), 3.72-3.92 (m, 2H), 4.08 (s, 3 H), 6.68 (d, J = 0.98 Hz, 1 H), 7.32 (s, 1 H), 7.45 (d, J = 0.98 Hz, 1 H), 7.59 (t, 1 H), 8.16 (d, J = 7.82 Hz, 1 H), 8.34 (d, J = 7.82 Hz, 1 H), 8.76 (s, 1 H). 12 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 406.5; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 8.00 (s, 1 H) 7.79 (s, 1 H) 7.32-7.47 (m, 3 H) 5.30-5.41 (m, 1 H) 4.07 (s, 3 H) 3.61 (br. s., 4 H) 2.79 (s, 2 H) 2.58 (s, 2 H) 1.61 (br. s., 2 H) 1.53 (br. s., 2 H) 1.43 (d, J = 6.84 Hz, 6 H) 13 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 516.28; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 8.16 (m, 4H), 7.38 (br.s, 2H), 7.05 (d, 1H), 5.37 (h, 1H), 3.48 (m 6H), 2.60 (s, 2H), 2.16 (br.s, 4H), 1.45 (d, 6H), 1.23 (app. br.s, 3H). 14 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 511; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ ppm 8.16 (m, 4H), 7.38 (br.s, 2H), 7.05 (d, 1H), 5.37 (h, 1H), 3.48 (m 6H), 2.60 (s, 2H), 2.16 (br.s, 4H), 1.45 (d, 6H), 1.23 (app. br.s, 3H). 15 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 511; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 13.04 (br. s., 1 H), 11.77 (s, 1 H), 8.16 (s, 1 H), 7.93 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.89 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.60 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.40-7.48 (m, 2 H), 7.27 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.14 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1 H), 6.74 (d, J = 1.2 Hz, 1 H), 5.24 (spt, J = 6.6 Hz, 1 H), 3.75 (br. s., 2 H), 3.65 (br. s., 2 H), 2.79 (s, 2H), 2.58 (s, 2 H), 1.50 (br. s., 4 H), 1.33 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 6 H). 16 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 511; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 12.75-13.11 (m, 1 H), 11.78 (s, 1 H), 8.03 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H), 7.76 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.40-7.50 (m, 2 H), 7.27 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.17 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 1 H), 6.79 (d, J = 1.2 Hz, 1 H), 5.25 (spt, J = 6.5 Hz, 1 H), 3.76 (br. s., 2 H), 3.66 (br. s., 2 H), 2.79 (s, 2H), 2.59 (s, 2H), 1.44- 1.58 (m, 4 H), 1.33 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 6 H). 17 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 525; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) ^(d) ppm 11.76 (s, 1 H), 8.16 (s, 1 H), 7.93 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.88 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 1 H), 7.59 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.43 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H), 7.36 (s, 1 H), 7.27 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.14 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1 H), 6.74 (s, 1 H), 3.78 (d, J = 12.9 Hz, 2 H), 3.63 (br. s., 2 H), 2.81 (s, 2 H), 2.60 (s, 2 H), 1.55 (s, 9 H), 1.49 (br. s., 4 H) 18 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1); ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 11.77 (s, 1 H), 8.03 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.76 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.45 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H), 7.37 (s, 1 H), 7.27 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.16 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1 H), 6.79 (d, J = 1.0 Hz, 1 H), 3.78 (br. s., 2 H), 3.64 (br. s., 2 H), 2.82 (s, 2 H), 2.61 (s, 2 H), 1.55 (s, 9 H), 1.49 (br. s., 4 H). 19 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 530.31; ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 400 MHz) δ ppm 8.64 (s, 1H), 8.25 (d, 1H), 8.02 (d, 1H), 7.80 (br. s, NH), 7.50 (m, 2H), 7.30 (s, 1H), 7.10 (d, 1H). 20 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 516.28; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆, 400 MHz) δ ppm 8.15 (d, 2H), 7.97 (d, 2H), 7.41 (d, 1H), 7.36 (s, 1H), 7.20 (d, 1H), 6.23 (br.s, NH), 3.87 (br. s, 4H), 2.92 (s, 3H), 2.78 (s, 2H), 2.58 (s, 2H), 1.54 (s, 9H), 1.46 (br.s, 4H). 21 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 477; LC/MS retention time 2.83 minutes on a Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 μm gradient elution (5% to 95%) with water:acetonitrile (0.05% TFA), 4 minute gradient and 5 minute hold time 22 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 463; LC/MS retention time 2.57 minutes on a Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 μm gradient elution (5% to 95%) with water:acetonitrile (0.05% TFA), 4 minute gradient and 5 minute hold time 23 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 530.29; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ ppm 8.72 (s, 1H), 8.33 (d, 1H), 8.12 (d, 1H), 7.52 (t, 1H), 7.36 (d, 2H), 7.05 (d, 1H), 5.67 (br. s, 1H), 5.36 (h, 1H), 4.43 (m, 1H), 3.62 (m, 4H), 3.09 (s, 1H), 2.81 (s, 2H), 2.59 (s, 2H), 1.61 (m, 4H), 1.45 (d, 6H), 1.30 (d, 6H) 24 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 544.3; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ ppm 8.57 (s, 1H), 8.36 (d, 1H), 7.36-7.54 (m, 2H), 7.31 (s, 1H), 7.04 (d, 1H), 4.22 (br. s, 1H), 3.65 (br.s, 4H), 2.83 (s, 2H), 2.62 (s, 2H), 1.65 (s, 13 H), 1.32 (d, 6H) 25 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 530.29; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ ppm 8.10-8.18 (dd, 4H), 7.38 (m, 2H), 7.04 (d, 1H), 5.39 (h, 1H), 4.36 (br. s, 1H), 3.61 (br. s, 4H), 2.81 (s, 2H), 2.59 (s, 2H), 1.70 (m, 4H), 1.45 (d, 6H), 1.29 (d, 6H) 26 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 512.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 8.24 (s, 1 H), 8.07 (m, 2 H), 7.86 (m, 2 H), 7.57 (s, 1 H), 7.43 (s, 1 H), 7.25 (d, J = 0.98 Hz, 1 H), 5.24 (t, J = 6.63 Hz, 1 H), 3.71 (br. s., 2 H), 3.59 (br. s., 2H), 2.78 (br. s., 2 H), 2.60 (s, 2 H), 1.46 (br. s., 4 H), 1.32 (d). 27 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 489.15; LC/MS retention time 2.29 minutes on a Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 □m gradient elution (5% to 95%) with water:acetonitrile (0.05% TFA), 4 minute gradient and 5 minute hold time 28 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 512.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.54 (d, J = 6.06 Hz, 1 H), 8.48 (t, J = 1.66 Hz, 1 H), 8.25 (dt, J = 7.77, 1.39 Hz, 1 H), 8.10 (dt, J = 8.11, 1.42 Hz, 1 H), 7.70-7.80 (m, 2 H), 7.41 (s, 1 H), 7.17 (s, 1 H), 5.32-5.42 (m, 1 H), 3.85 (br. s., 4 H), 2.89 (s, 2 H), 2.64 (s, 2 H), 1.66 (br. s., 4 H) 1.41 (d). 29 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 512.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 8.37 (d, J = 4.88 Hz, 1 H) 8.07 (m, 2 H) 7.87 (m, 2 H) 7.43 (s, 1 H) 7.26 (d, J = 4.88 Hz, 1 H) 6.79 (d, J = 2.15 Hz, 1 H) 5.23 (d, J = 6.44 Hz, 1 H) 3.69 (s, 4 H) 2.78 (s, 2 H) 2.59 (s, 2 H) 1.50 (br. s., 4 H) 1.32 (d). 30 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 512; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.46 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 1 H), 8.33-8.37 (m, 2 H), 8.05- 8.10 (m, 2 H), 7.99 (dd, J = 6.7, 0.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.43 (s, 1 H), 7.34 (d, J = 0.8 Hz, 1 H), 5.38 (spt, J = 6.5 Hz, 1 H), 3.75-3.94 (m, 4 H), 2.91 (s, 2 H), 2.66 (s, 2H), 1.68 (br. s., 4 H), 1.43 (s, 6 H). 31 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 555.3; LC/MS retention time 3.09 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 32 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 516.3; LC/MS retention time 2.77 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 33 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 516; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.18 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H), 7.97 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H), 7.42 (s, 1 H), 7.15 (d, J = 0.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.07 (s, 1 H), 5.38 (spt, J = 6.7 Hz, 1 H), 3.83-3.91 (m, 1 H), 3.69-3.76 (m, 1 H), 3.45-3.52 (m, 2 H), 3.33-3.36 (m, 6 H), 2.90 (s, 2 H), 2.66 (d, J = 2.7 Hz, 2 H), 1.68- 1.74 (m, 2 H), 1.58-1.64 (m, 2 H), 1.42 (t, J = 6.3 Hz, 6 H). 34 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 513.3; LC/MS retention time 2.4 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 35 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 512.2; LC/MS retention time 2.2 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 36 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 513.3; LC/MS retention time 2.41 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 37 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 511.2; LC/MS retention time 2.82 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95%MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 38 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 512.24; LC/MS retention time 2.21 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 39 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 511.3; LC/MS retention time 2.87 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 40 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 512.28; LC/MS retention time 2.27 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 41 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 511.2; LC/MS retention time 3.19 minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 42 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 570.27; LC/MS retention time 3.11; minutes. Column: Waters Atlantis dC18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 43 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 502; LC/MS retention time 2.06 minutes. Column: Waters Sunfire C18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 44 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 502; LC/MS retention time 2.09 minutes. Column: Waters Sunfire C18 4.6 × 50 mm, 5 um Modifier: TFA 0.05% Gradient: 95% H20/5% MeCN linear to 5% H20/95% MeCN over 4.0 min, HOLD at 5% H20/95% MeCN to 5.0 min. Flow: 2.0 mL/min. 45 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 516; ¹HNMR (CD₃OD + 1 drop DCM, 400 MHz): 8.70 (s, 1H), 8.14 (d, 1H), 8.03 (d, 1H), 7.59 (m, 2H), 7.50 (m, 1H), 7.42 (d, 1H), 7.41 (s, 1H), 5.41 (m, 1h), 4.45 (m, 1H), 4.28 (m, 1H), 3.89 (m, 1H), 3.73 (m, 1h), 2.89 (dd, 2H), 2.63 (s, 2H), 1.79 to 1.62 (m, 4H), 1.42 (d, 6H). 46 isopropyl

MS (M + H) 512; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.09 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.77 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 2 H), 7.66 (m, 1 H), 7.43 (s, 1 H), 5.39 (spt, J = 6.6 Hz, 1 H), 4.30-4.39 (m, 1 H), 4.14-4.22 (m, 1 H), 3.86- 3.95 (m, 1 H), 3.70-3.79 (m, 1 H), 2.91 (s, 2H), 2.66 (s, 2 H), 1.66-1.74 (m, 4 H), 1.42 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 6 H) 47 isopropyl

MS (M + H) 512; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.30 (t, J = 1.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.99 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.87 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.59-7.66 (m, 1 H), 7.54 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.41 (s, 1 H), 5.38 (spt, J = 6.6 Hz, 1 H), 4.30- 4.40 (m, 1 H), 4.13-4.23 (m, 1 H), 3.85-3.95 (m, 1 H), 3.69-3.79 (m, 1 H), 2.90 (s, 2H), 2.65 (s, 2 H), 1.63-1.77 (m, 4 H), 1.42 (dd, J = 6.6, 1.8 Hz, 6H) 48 isopropyl

MS (MH + 1) 496; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 8.31 (s, 1H), 8.02 (d, 1H), 7.78 (m, 3H), 7.65 (m, 1H), 7.50 (m, 2H), 7.41 (s, 1H), 5.37 (m, 1H), 3.86 (br.s, 1H), 3.72 (br.s, 1H), 2.88 (s, 2H), 2.50 (s, 2H), 1.60 (m, 4H), 1.40 (d, 6H) 49 t-butyl

MS (MH + 1) 510.25; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 8.32 (s, 1H), 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.80 (m, 3H), 7.60 (t, 1H), 7.54 (d, 2H), 7.32 (s, 1H), 3.90 (br.s, 1H), 3.70 (br.s, 1H), 3.50 (br.s, 2H), 2.85 (s, 2H), 2.65 (s, 2H), 1.56 (m, 13 H).

Pharmacological Data Biological Protocols

The utility of the compounds of present invention, in the treatment of diseases (such as are detailed herein) in animals, particularly mammals (e.g., humans) may be demonstrated by the activity thereof in conventional assays known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including the in vitro and in vivo assays described below. Such assays also provide a means whereby the activities of the compound of the present invention can be compared with the activities of other known compounds.

Direct Inhibition of the Activities of ACC1 and ACC2

The ACC inhibitory activity of the compound of the present invention was demonstrated by methods based on standard procedures. For example direct inhibition of ACC activity, for the compound of Formula (I) was determined using preparations of recombinant human ACC1 (rhACC1) and recombinant human ACC2 (rhACC2). Representative sequences of the recombinant human ACC1 and ACC2 that can be used in the assay are provided in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO. 1) and FIG. 2 (SEQ. ID NO. 2), respectively.

[1] Preparation of rhACC1. Two liters of SF9 cells, infected with recombinant baculovirus containing full length human ACC1 cDNA, were suspended in ice-cold lysis buffer (25 mM Tris, pH 7.5; 150 mM NaCl; 10% glycerol; 5 mM imidazole (EMD Bioscience; Gibbstown, NJ); 2 mM TCEP (BioVectra; Charlottetown, Canada); Benzonase nuclease (10000 U/100 g cell paste; Novagen; Madison, WI); EDTA-free protease inhibitor cocktail (1 tab/50 mL; Roche Diagnostics; Mannheim, Germany). Cells were lysed by 3 cycles of freeze-thaw and centrifuged at 40,000×g for 40 minutes (4° C.). Supernatant was directly loaded onto a HisTrap FF crude column (GE Healthcare; Piscataway, NJ) and eluted with an imidazole gradient up to 0.5 M over 20 column volumes (CV). ACC1-containing fractions were pooled and diluted 1:5 with 25 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 2 mM TCEP, 10% glycerol and direct loaded onto a CaptoQ (GE Healthcare) column and eluted with an NaCl gradient up to 1 M over 20 CV's. Phosphate groups were removed from purified ACC1 by incubation with lambda phosphatase (100 U/10 μM target protein; New England Biolabs; Beverly, MA) for 14 hours at 4° C.; okadaic acid was added (1 μM final concentration; Roche Diagnostics) to inhibit the phosphatase. Purified ACC1 was exchanged into 25 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 2 mM TCEP, 10% glycerol, 0.5 M NaCl by 6 hour dialysis at 4° C. Aliquots were prepared and frozen at −80° C.

[2] Measurement of rhACC1 inhibition. hACC1 was assayed in a Costar #3676 (Costar, Cambridge, MA) 384-well plate using the Transcreener ADP detection FP assay kit (Bellbrook Labs, Madison, Wisconsin) using the manufacturer's recommended conditions for a 50 μM ATP reaction. The final conditions for the assay were 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.2, 10 mM MgCl₂, 7.5 mM tripotassium citrate, 2 mM DTT, 0.1 mg/mL BSA, 30 μM acetyl-CoA, 50 μM ATP, and 10 mM KHCO₃. Typically, a 10 μl reaction was run for 120 min at 25° C., and 10 μl of Transcreener stop and detect buffer was added and the combination incubated at room temp for an additional 1 hour. The data was acquired on a Envision Fluorescence reader (Perkinelmer) using a 620 excitation Cy5 FP general dual mirror, 620 excitation Cy5 FP filter, 688 emission (S) and a 688 (P) emission filter.

[3] Preparation of rhACC2. Human ACC2 inhibition was measured using purified recombinant human ACC2 (hrACC2). Briefly, a full length Cytomax clone of ACC2 was purchased from Cambridge Bioscience Limited and was sequenced and subcloned into PCDNA5 FRT TO-TOPO (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). The ACC2 was expressed in CHO cells by tetracycline induction and harvested in 5 liters of DMEM/F12 with glutamine, biotin, hygromycin and blasticidin with 1 μg/mL tetracycline (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). The conditioned medium containing ACC2 was then applied to a Softlink Soft Release Avidin column (Promega, Madison, Wisconsin) and eluted with 5 mM biotin. 4 mgs of ACC2 were eluted at a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL (determined by A280) with an estimated purity of 95% (determined by A280). The purified ACC2 was dialyzed in 50 mM Tris, 200 mM NaCl, 4 mM DTT, 2 mM EDTA, and 5% glycerol. The pooled protein was frozen and stored at −80° C., with no loss of activity upon thawing. For measurement of ACC2 activity and assessment of ACC2 inhibition, test compounds were dissolved in DMSO and added to the rhACC2 enzyme as a 5×stock with a final DMSO concentration of 1%.

[4] Measurement of human ACC2 inhibition. hACC2 was assayed in a Costar #3676 (Costar, Cambridge, MA) 384-well plate using the Transcreener ADP detection FP assay kit (Bellbrook Labs, Madison, Wisconsin) using the manufacturer's recommended conditions for a 50 uM ATP reaction. The final conditions for the assay were 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.2, 5 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM tripotassium citrate, 2 mM DTT, 0.1 mg/mL BSA, 30 μM acetyl-CoA, 50 μM ATP, and 8 mM KHCO₃. Typically, a 10 μl reaction was run for 50 min at 25° C., and 10 μl of Transcreener stop and detect buffer was added and the combination incubated at room temp for an additional 1 hour. The data was acquired on an Envision Fluorescence reader (Perkinelmer) using a 620 excitation Cy5 FP general dual mirror, 620 excitation Cy5 FP filter, 688 emission (S) and a 688 (P) emission filter.

The results using the recombinant hACC1 and recombinant hACC2 Transcreener assays described above are summarized in the table below for the Compounds of Formula (I) exemplified in the Examples above. All of the examples in both assays were run with a minimum of n=3.

hACC1 hACC2 Example (nM) (nM)  1 176 184  2 59.6 84.1  3 5400 2260  4 116 53  5 163 114  6 260 115  7 113 74.2  8 156 175  9 30.9 29.7 10 30.1 35.5 11 180 268 12 152 94.5 13 221 143 14 139 76.1 15 6.11 7.88 16 9.75 11.6 17 15.6 21.6 18 4.5 14.6 19 837 487 20 355 300 21 627 507 22 1010 685 23 1370 420 24 3140 557 25 600 202 26 20.4 7.49 27 2910 1140 28 6.70 5.35 29 13.7 6.16 30 16.1 18.8 31 23.1 54.8 32 31.8 12.5 33 16.3 8.7 34 55.8 42.6 35 32.6 12.5 36 44.4 29.3 37 6.6 3.2 38 33.5 19.9 39 29.1 29.8 40 10.2 6.1 41 8.6 15.2 42 39.9 30.4 43 98.4 133 44 34.4 35.9 45 4.9 10.0 46 11.6 15.7 47 32.5 25.7 48 59.5 28.0 49 54.7 24.7

Acute In Vivo Assessment of ACC Inhibition in Experimental Animals

The ACC inhibitory activity of the compounds of the present invention can be confirmed in vivo by evaluation of their ability to reduce malonyl-CoA levels in liver and muscle tissue from treated animals.

Measurement of malonyl-CoA production inhibition in experimental animals. In this method, male Sprague-Dawley Rats, maintained on standard chow and water ad libitum (225-275 g), were randomized prior to the study. Animals were either fed, or fasted for 18 hours prior to the beginning of the experiment. Two hours into the light cycle the animals were orally dosed with a volume of 5 mL/kg, (0.5% methyl cellulose; vehicle) or with the appropriate compound (prepared in vehicle). Fed vehicle controls were included to determine baseline tissue malonyl-CoA levels while fasted animals were included to determine the effect fasting had on malonyl-CoA levels. One hour after compound administration the animals were asphyxiated with CO₂ and the tissues were removed. Specifically, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and placed into BD Microtainer tubes containing EDTA (BD Biosciences, NJ), mixed, and placed on ice. Plasma was used to determine drug exposure. Liver and quadriceps were removed, immediately freeze-clamped, wrapped in foil and stored in liquid nitrogen.

Tissues were pulverized under liquid N₂ to ensure uniformity in sampling. Malonyl-CoA was extracted from the tissue (150-200 mg) with 5 volumes 10% tricarboxylic acid in Lysing Matrix A (MP Biomedicals, PN 6910) in a FastPrep FP120 (Thermo Scientific, speed=5.5; for 45 seconds). The supernatant containing malonyl-CoA was removed from the cell debris after centrifugation at 15000×g for 30 minutes (Eppendorf Centrifuge 5402). Samples were stably frozen at −80 C until analysis is completed.

Analysis of malonyl CoA levels in liver and muscle tissue can be evaluated using the following methodology.

The method utilizes the following materials: Malonyl-CoA tetralithium salt and malonyl-¹³C₃-CoA trilithium salt which were purchased from Isotec (Miamisburg, OH, USA), sodium perchlorate (Sigma, cat no. 410241), trichloroacetic acid (ACROS, cat no. 42145), phosphoric acid (J.T. Baker, cat no. 0260-01), ammonium formate (Fluke, cat no. 17843), methanol (HPLC grade, J.T. Baker, cat no. 9093-33), and water (HPLC grade, J.T. Baker, 4218-03) were used to make the necessary mobile phases. Strata-X on-line solid phase extraction columns, 25 μm, 20 mm×2.0 mm I.D (cat no. 00M-S033-B0-CB) were obtained from Phenomenex (Torrance, CA, USA). SunFire C18 reversed-phase columns, 3.5 μm, 100 mm×3.0 mm I.D. (cat no. 186002543) were purchased from Waters Corporation (Milford, MA, USA).

This method may be performed utilizing the following equipment. Two-dimensional chromatography using an Agilent 1100 binary pump, an Agilent 1100 quaternary pump and two Valco Cheminert 6-port two position valves. Samples were introduced via a LEAP HTC PAL auto sampler with Peltier cooled stack maintained at 10° C. and a 20 μL sampling loop. The needle wash solutions for the autosampler are 10% trichloroacetic acid in water (w/v) for Wash 1 and 90:10 methanol:water for Wash 2. The analytical column (Sunfire) was maintained at 35° C. using a MicroTech Scientific Micro-LC Column Oven. The eluent was analyzed on an ABI Sciex API3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with Turbo Ion Spray.

Two-dimensional chromatography was performed in parallel using distinct gradient elution conditions for on-line solid phase extraction and reversed-phase chromatography. The general design of the method was such that the first dimension was utilized for sample clean-up and capture of the analyte of interest followed by a brief coupling of both dimensions for elution from the first dimension onto the second dimension. The dimensions were subsequently uncoupled allowing for gradient elution of the analyte from the second dimension for quantification while simultaneously preparing the first dimension for the next sample in the sequence. When both dimensions were briefly coupled together, the flow of the mobile phase in the first dimension was reversed for analyte elution on to the second dimension, allowing for optimal peak width, peak shape, and elution time.

The first dimension of the HPLC system utilized the Phenomenex strata-X on-line solid phase extraction column and the mobile phase consisted of 100 mM sodium perchlorate/0.1% (v/v) phosphoric acid for solvent A and methanol for solvent B.

The second dimension of the HPLC system utilized the Waters SunFire C18 reversed-phase column and the mobile phase consisted of 100 mM ammonium formate for solvent A and methanol for solvent B. The initial condition of the gradient was maintained for 2 minutes and during this time the analyte was transferred to the analytical column. It was important that the initial condition was at a sufficient strength to elute the analyte from the on-line SPE column while retaining it on the analytical. Afterwards, the gradient rose linearly to 74.5% A in 4.5 minutes before a wash and re-equilibration step.

Mass spectrometry when coupled with HPLC can be a highly selective and sensitive method for quantitatively measuring analytes in complex matrices but is still subject to interferences and suppression. By coupling a two dimensional HPLC to the mass spectrometer, these interferences were significantly reduced. Additionally, by utilizing the Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) feature of the triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, the signal-to-noise ratio was significantly improved.

For this assay, the mass spectrometer was operated in positive ion mode with a TurbolonSpray voltage of 2250V. The nebulizing gas was heated to 450° C. The Declustering Potential (DP), Focusing Potential (FP), and Collision Energy (CE) were set to 60, 340, and 42 V, respectively. Quadrupole 1 (Q1) resolution was set to unit resolution with Quadrupole 3 (Q3) set to low. The CAD gas was set to 8. The MRM transitions monitored were for malonyl CoA: 854.1-347.0 m/z (L. Gao et al. (2007) J. Chromatogr. B 853, 303-313); and for malonyl-¹³C₃-CoA: 857.1→350.0 m/z with dwell times of 200 ms. The eluent was diverted to the mass spectrometer near the expected elution time for the analyte, otherwise it was diverted to waste to help preserve the source and improve robustness of the instrumentation. The resulting chromatograms were integrated using Analyst software (Applied Biosystems). Tissue concentrations for malonyl CoA were calculated from a standard curve prepared in a 10% solution of trichloroacetic acid in water.

Samples comprising the standard curve for the quantification of malonyl-CoA in tissue extracts were prepared in 10% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and ranged from 0.01 to 1 pmol/μL. Malonyl-¹³C₃-CoA (final concentration of 0.4 pmol/μL) was added to each standard curve component and sample as an internal standard.

Six intra-assay quality controls were prepared; three from a pooled extract prepared from fasted animals and three from a pool made from fed animals. These were run as independent samples spiked with 0, 0.1 or 0.3 pmol/μL ¹²C-malonyl-CoA as well as malonyl-¹³C₃-CoA (0.4 pmol/μL). Each intra-assay quality control contained 85% of aqueous tissue extract with the remaining portion contributed by internal standard (0.4 pmol/μL) and ¹²C-malonyl-CoA. Inter assay controls were included in each run; they consist of one fasted and one fed pooled sample of quadriceps and/or one fasted and one fed pooled sample of liver. All such controls are spiked with malonyl-¹³C₃-CoA (0.4 pmol/μL). 

1. A method for treating a diabetes-related disease in a human comprising the step of administering to the human in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹ is (C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₃-C₇)cycloalkyl, tetrahydrofuranyl or oxetanyl, wherein said (C₁-C₆)alkyl is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from (C₁-C₃)alkoxy, hydroxy, fluoro, phenyl, tetrahydrofuranyl or oxetanyl; R² is hydrogen, halo, (C₁-C₃)alkyl, or cyano; R³ are each independently hydrogen or (C₁-C₃)alkyl; L is a direct bond or a (C₁-C₆)alkylene wherein one carbon of the (C₁-C₆)alkylene is optionally replaced by —C(O)—, —C(O)NH—, —NHC(O)—, —O—, —S—, NH or N(C₁-C₃)alkyl; Z is CH₂ or O; A¹ and A² are each independently (C₆-C₁₀)aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl or 8 to 12 membered fused heterocyclicaryl; wherein said (C₆-C₁₀)aryl, 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl or 8 to 12 membered fused heterocyclicaryl are each optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy, halo, amino, (C₁-C₃)alkylamino, di(C₁-C₃)alkylamino, hydroxy, cyano and amido wherein the alkyl portion of the (C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy, (C₁-C₃)alkylamino and di(C₁-C₃)alkylamino are optionally substituted with one to five fluoro; and wherein one of A¹ or A² is substituted by CO₂R⁴, (C₁-C₆)CO₂R⁴, tetrazolyl or (C₁-C₆)tetrazolyl; and R⁴ is (C₁-C₈)alkyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl or (C₁-C₆)alkyl-(C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the diabetes-related disease is selected from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance syndrome.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the diabetes-related disease is selected from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and obesity.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the diabetes-related disease is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of administering a second pharmaceutical agent, wherein the second agent is an anti-diabetic agent selected from the group consisting of metformin, acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, diabinese, glibenclamide, glipizide, glyburide, glimepiride, gliclazide, glipentide, gliquidone, glisolamide, tolazamide, tolbutamide, tendamistat, trestatin, acarbose, adiposine, camiglibose, emiglitate, miglitol, voglibose, pradimicin-Q, salbostatin, balaglitazone, ciglitazone, darglitazone, englitazone, isaglitazone, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, troglitazone, exendin-3, exendin-4, trodusquemine, reservatrol, hyrtiosal extract, sitagliptin, vildagliptin, alogliptin and saxagliptin.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound of Formula (I) is where R¹ is isopropyl or t-butyl; and where R² is hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound of Formula (I) is where A¹ is phenyl, pyridinyl, indazolyl, indolyl, benzoimidazolyl, pyrrolopyridinyl or pyrrolopyrimidinyl; each optionally substituted with one methyl, methoxy, methylamino or dimethylamino; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound of Formula (I) is where A¹ is phenyl, indolyl or benzoimidazolyl optionally substituted with methyl, or pyridinyl optionally substituted with methylamino or dimethylamino; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 